In this series we examine the emotions Jesus Christ felt when He was on earth, limited to a time in history, a geographical place, and a human body that needed water, food and sleep. We will examine how He managed His emotions; and why His emotional experiences enable Him to understand everything you and I feel. He is our help in time of trouble.

Compassion- a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

Situation #1 context

This situation happened after the 12 returned from going about two by two and Jesus took them away in a boat.

Mark 6:³⁴ And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

What triggered the emotion of compassion in Jesus?

Why do you think Jesus saw the people as sheep in need of a shepherd rather than seeing them as rebellious creatures?

A shepherd gives provision, protection, direction and correction. Why do people need those things?

Your emotions are personal. What emotions do you feel from this account?

How did Jesus respond to His emotion of compassion?

What has Jesus been teaching you lately?

What does Jesus’ compassion and His response to that compassion mean to you?

Situation #2 context

This situation happened right after the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out devils through the prince of devils.

Matthew 9:³⁵ And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. ³⁶But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. ³⁷Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; ³⁸Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

What triggered the emotion of compassion in Jesus?

Your emotions are personal. What emotions do you feel from this account?

What connection do you see between the people’s need for a shepherd and the request to pray the Lord of the Harvest for more laborers in His harvest?

How did Jesus respond to His emotion of compassion?

What does Jesus’ compassion and His response to that compassion mean to you?

Situation #3 context

In this situation Jesus by the Sea of Galilee has just healed one who was deaf with a speech impediment and the people were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well.

Mark 8: ¹In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, ²I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:

Was there a time when Jesus was hungry?

What triggered the emotion of compassion in Jesus?

Do you think Jesus did not eat for three days?

Your emotions are personal. What emotions do you feel from this account?

How did Jesus respond to His emotion of compassion?

Why did Jesus call His disciples? Do you think He wanted their opinions? Was He testing them?

Do you think the disciples noted that Jesus was concerned for the people’s hunger but did not express concern for their hunger?

Does Jesus sometimes focus your attention on someone else’s need for compassion?

What does Jesus’ compassion and His response to that compassion mean to you?

Situation #4 context

This situation occurred as Jesus left Jericho after declaring the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Matthew 20:³⁰ And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. ³¹And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. ³²And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? ³³They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. ³⁴So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

What triggered the emotion of compassion in Jesus?

Why did Jesus ask the men what they wanted?

Is it important that they asked the Son of David for mercy?

Your emotions are personal. What emotions do you feel from this account?

How did Jesus respond to His emotion of compassion?

Is it important that Jesus touched them?

Do you notice the result was sight and immediately?

What does Jesus’ compassion and His response to that compassion mean to you?

What about Jesus feeling the emotion of compassion qualifies Him to be our great High Priest?

Lamentations 3:²² It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. ²³They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Let’s look at the recorded description of our High Priest in Hebrews 4:¹³Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. ¹⁴Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. ¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Our Challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will    accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run being yoked to Emmanuel!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when together you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

You and I live in a fallen creation. Sin and death have entered the world. Everyone is born with a sinful, rebellious nature. But when we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, He makes us new and gives us a new nature that desires to please Him.

Living in this fallen creation sometimes hurts. Things go wrong. Life is not perfect. Perhaps your heart is bruised because of disappointment, hardship, difficult circumstances, lose, rejection, malicious intent of others.

The good news is that your Creator, Jesus Christ, the One Who is all knowing, all powerful, love and truth became a man specifically to heal your bruised heart!

You remember the story recorded in the book of Luke. After spending 40 days overcoming the testing of the devil, Jesus Christ came to Nazareth and went to the synagogue on the Sabbath.

Luke 4:¹⁶And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. ¹⁷And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, ¹⁸The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, ¹⁹To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. ²⁰And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. ²¹And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Jesus Christ was reading from the book of Isaiah, a prophecy written in the 8^th century BC. Imagine! God knew so long ago that sometimes during your lifetime your heart would be bruised and He prepared and purposed a solution! How powerful and purposeful our Jesus Christ is!

Wow! Jesus Christ limited Himself to a time, a place, a human body so He could heal your broken heart and set you at liberty when you are bruised. What love! But let’s examine more closely what He is saying.

Heal = to restore, to make whole, to free from evil

Broken = torn, reduced to fragments, violated

Do you feel broken?

How will He heal your broken heart? Jesus Christ is the God of options. He is not limited to one method of healing. Perhaps He will turn everything around for you. Perhaps He will do something very unexpected. Whatever He does it will be unique for you. You are precious to Him and unique. He does not heal each of us in the same way.

Liberty =freedom from restrictions or hampering conditions

Bruised =injured; crushed

Jesus Christ limited Himself to a place, a time and a human body to give you freedom from the restrictions that hamper your living the abundant life He provides.

Notice there is no stipulation that you must earn the liberty!

What do these scripture verses mean to you?

What needs to be healed?

Do you feel brised?

Does Jesus Care? –Frank E. Graeff, 1901

1. Does Jesus care when my heart is pained Too deeply for mirth or song,
   As the burdens press, and the cares distress, And the way grows weary and long?
   • Refrain:
     Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief;
     When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares.
2. Does Jesus care when my way is dark With a nameless dread and fear?
   As the daylight fades into deep night shades, Does He care enough to be near?
3. Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed To resist some temptation strong;
   When for my deep grief there is no relief, Though my tears flow all the night long?
4. Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye” To the dearest on earth to me,
   And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

 

Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will     accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

We begin a series about emotions. In this series we examine the emotions Jesus Christ felt when He was on earth, limited to a time in history, a geographical place, and a human body. We will examine how He managed His emotions; and why His emotional experiences enable Him to understand everything you and I feel. He is our help in time of trouble.

Emotions are part of your body’s signal system. Emotions informs you about what is going on around you. In much the same way as nerve endings in your hand warn you the stove is hot, emotions warn you about what is going on around you. Your emotions are God-given. Emotions are neither right nor wrong of themselves. How you respond to your emotions can be wrong.

What are emotions?

Emotions are a valuable part of you!

You are entitled to your emotions!

Emotions are not a sin

Your emotions are personal (No one can tell how another should feel)

You are not responsible for anyone else’s emotions

Remember you are unique for His reasons – 1 Corinthians 4:⁶ And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

⁷ For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

Why do we have our emotions?

Emotions are part of your body’s signal system, neither right nor wrong of themselves.

(What is causing this feeling? – the present or the unresolved past?)

If you don’t control your emotions they will control you.

Control isn’t burying/suppressing emotion but to set boundaries around the emotion

Behavior reflects your response to your emotional signals

Does your behavior indicate you are in control or your emotions are in control?

When behavior reflects an emotion that is controlling you, the better response was not chosen

Negative emotions sap your energy – anger, fear, worry, jealousy, hurt feelings, envy, lust

– help you to blame others or things rather than taking responsibility for yourself

– signal a need to change your response to the emotion and take control

Emotional pain does not mean your relationship with Jesus Christ has failed.

Emotional pain does not make you a second class Christian.

Jesus understands each emotion you feel and He can help. Hebrews 2:⁵ For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

⁶ But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

⁷ Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

⁸ Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

⁹ But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

¹⁰ For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

¹¹ For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

¹² Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

¹³ And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

¹⁴ Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

¹⁵ And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

¹⁶ For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

¹⁷ Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

¹⁸ For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

No one understands like Jesus – John Peterson

No one understands like Jesus; He’s a Friend beyond compare.
Meet Him at the throne of mercy; He is waiting for you there.

CHORUS
No one understands like Jesus When the days are dark and grim.
No one is so near, so dear as Jesus; Cast your every care on Him.

No understands like Jesus; every woe He sees and feels.
Tenderly He whispers comfort, and the broken heart He heals.

No one understands like Jesus When the foes of life assail.
You should never be discouraged; Jesus cares and will not fail.

No one understands like Jesus When you falter on the way.
Though you fail Him, sadly fail Him, He will pardon you today.

 

Questions for reflection

• Does your behavior indicate you are in control or your emotions are in control?

• What are your emotions currently telling you?

When someone tells you that you shouldn’t feel that way, how do you respond?

Which emotion are you feeling most right now?

• Is  your life short-circuited by a negative emotion? Which one?_____________

• Is your attitude self-affirming or self-degrading?

• What does it matter to you that Jesus took on human flesh like you?

• What emotion do you most often feel? Do you know why?

• What emotion is the most difficult for you to control?

• Is there an emotion you do not often feel? Do you know why?

Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will     accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

It is winter. The meteorology forecasts are for heavy snow. Why is there snow we ask?

Jesus Christ recorded His reasons in the book of Job. The book of Job is one of the wisdom books; considered to be one of the oldest books of the Bible, although both the penman and the date of writing is unknown.

Job 37: ⁵God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

⁶For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

⁷He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

⁸Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.

⁹Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.

¹⁰By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.

¹¹Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:

¹²And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.

¹³He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

Certainly we understand the need of the land to rest in winter; the cycles of planting, growing, harvesting then resting.

Certainly we can understand the need of human beings for mercy.

All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).

What do we understand of the need for correction?

John 17:¹These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

²As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

³And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Questions for Reflection

What do these verses mean to you?

What do you know about animals hibernating in winter?

What do you know about the planting and harvesting cycles?

 

Great is Thy faithfulness – Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; as Thou hast been thou forever will be.

Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed Thy hand hath provided; great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, sun, moon and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth. Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will     accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

Jesus Christ is not limited by what you can see.

One of His Names is the LORD of Hosts – “Yahweh Sabaoth”.  Isaiah 47:⁴ As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.

Jesus Christ has many armies at His command.

1) frogs – Exodus 8:⁵ And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.

⁶ And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.

2) lice Exodus 8:¹⁶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

¹⁷ And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

3) flies- Exodus 8,²⁰ And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

²¹ Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.

²² And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.

²³ And I will put a division between my people and thy people: tomorrow shall this sign be.

²⁴ And the LORD did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.

4) hail & fire Exodus 9:²² And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.

²³ And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.

²⁴ So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

²⁵ And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.

²⁶ Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.

5) the earth – Numbers 16:²⁸ And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.

²⁹ If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.

³⁰ But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.

³¹ And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

³² And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

³³ They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

³⁴ And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.

³⁵ And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

6) darkness that can be felt – Exodus 10:²¹ And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.

²² And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:

²³ They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings

7) serpents – Numbers 21:⁵ And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

⁶ And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died

Amos 9:³ And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:

8) hailstones – Joshua 10:¹⁰ And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.

¹¹ And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword

9) bears – 2 Kings 2:²³ And he went up from thene unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.

²⁴ And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

10) ravens – 1 Kings 17:² And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

³ Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

⁴ And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

⁵ So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

⁶ And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

11) horses and chariots of fire– 2 Kings 6:¹⁷ And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

12) Sword – Amos 9:⁴ And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.

13) Angels – Genesis 3:²⁴ So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Genesis 32:¹ And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

² And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Numbers 22:²² And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

²³ And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.

²⁴ But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

²⁵ And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.

²⁶ And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

²⁷ And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.

²⁸ And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

²⁹ And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

³⁰ And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.

³¹ Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

³² And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

³³ And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.

³⁴ And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

Luke 2:⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

14) great fish –Jonah 1:¹⁷ Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah 2:¹⁰ And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

15) lions – 2 Kings 17:²⁵ And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them.

16) widow – 1 Kings 17:⁸And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

⁹ Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

17)great wind – Jonah 1:⁴ But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

18) gourd –Jonah 4:⁶ And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.

19) -worm –Jonah 4:⁷But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.

20) – vehement east wind –Jonah 4:⁸ And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.

21)  hornet – Joshua 24: (note hornets destroy no vegetation)

¹² And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.

¹³ And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat

22) Sun and moon –Joshua 10:¹² Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.

¹³ And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.

¹⁴ And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.

23) Forest – 2 Samuel 18:8⁶ So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim;

⁷ Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.

⁸ For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the forest  devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

24) Pharaoh’s Daughter – Exodus 2:² And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.

³ And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.

⁴ And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.

⁵ And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.

⁶ And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.

⁷ Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?

⁸ And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother.

⁹ And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.

¹⁰ And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.

25) Weather – Job 37:¹ At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.

² Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.

³ He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

⁴ After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.

⁵ God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

⁶ For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

⁷ He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

⁸ Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.

⁹ Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.

¹⁰ By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.

¹¹ Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:

¹² And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.

¹³ He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

26) Noise – 2 Kings 6:⁶ For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.

⁷ Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.

Jesus Christ is the strongest. Nothing and no one can stop Him.

Isaiah 14: 26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. 27 For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

Psalms 84:¹² O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

Zechariah 4:⁶ Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

 

 

Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through  you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

 

Psalms 84:¹¹ For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Sun overcomes darkness with light and warmth; melts what is frozen

Shield protects  and defends

Genesis 15:¹After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Why do you suppose God told Abram (before he was renamed Abraham) not to fear?

Do you see a requirement for God to be your shield?

Psalms 115:¹¹ Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

Proverbs 30:⁵ Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Why do you suppose Samuel and David said the same thing?

2 Samuel 22:³⁶Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.

Psalms 18:³⁵Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

2 Samuel 22:³¹As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a shield to all them that trust in him.

Psalms 18:³⁰ As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a shield to all those that trust in him.

More verses regarding the Lord God as our shield

Deuteronomy 33:²⁹Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

2 Samuel 22:³The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

Psalms 5:¹²For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Psalms 28:⁷ The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Psalms 33:²⁰ Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

Psalms 59:¹¹ Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.

Psalms84:⁹ Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. ¹⁰For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Psalms 119:¹¹⁴ Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

Psalms 144:¹ (A Psalm of David.) Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: ²My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

What other truths do you see in these verses?

What about your circumstances today causes you to desire His shield?

Our focus-Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed  and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will       accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

 

Often we desire to see Jesus in person; to look on His face; to touch Him; to be with Him. The Bible documents these components of His physical attributes in Song of Solomon chapter 4:

Jesus is pure, viral, healthy¹⁰ My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.

Jesus is Sovereign, healthy, ageless. His hair is not gray, thin, receding or gone.

¹¹ His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.

Jesus is focused on you & your spiritual health, steadfast.

Doves have no peripheral vision. This indicates His perfect focus on you.

¹² His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.

His cheeks are sweet. His lips are fragrant with words of love

¹³ His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh

Remember the words of Isaiah 50?⁶ I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

⁷ For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

When we see Him, will there be missing hairs from His beard? Did they pluck out the hair follicles, also?

His sovereign hands created you and bore the cross for you He stands ensconced in a human body but glorified.¹⁴ His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.

Soft were your hands, Dear Jesus -Geoffrey O’Hara 1936

Soft were your hands, Dear Jesus.So gentle the touch of You

Like a rose that opens at breaking dawn Still gemmed in crystal dew.

Hands that bore the rugged cross and built a faith divine.

Strong were your hands dear Jesus.Ah, would they had touched mine.

Ah, would they had touched mine

Jesus stands the storms of time with Sovereignty. He is forever able to hold you up from the chaos.¹⁵ His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

His words to you are of love. Jesus is your Friend ¹⁶ His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

Altogether Lovely – Wendell Loveless, 1931

Altogether lovely. He is altogether lovely and

the fairest of ten thousand this wonderful Friend divine.

He gave Himself to save me. Now He lives in Heaven to keep me.

He is altogether lovely is this wonderful Savior of mine.

Questions for reflection

1) What church activities keep your focus off Jesus?  Why?

2) What busyness gets in your way of time alone with Jesus?

3) Think on Psalms 139: How can these verses help?¹ (To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.) O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

² Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

³ Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

⁴ For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

⁵ Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

⁷ Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence

4) Which of the characteristics of your Beloved matter most to you right now? Why?

5) When you encounter family/friends who do not understand your love for Jesus, what do you say?

What do you do?

6) What do you most want to tell Jesus right now?

Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through  you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

 

How do you define love?

What is your experience with love?

Who has loved you most?

Let’s look at God’s love for you. Doesn’t it make sense that your Creator’s love should be an indicator of how you can define and identify love?

1) Quality of God’s love for you is unconditional.

     There is no ‘I will love you if’.

There is no ‘I will love you when’.

There is no ‘I will love you until’.

2)  Scope of God’s love for you is everlasting through all stages of your life

There is nothing you need do to earn God’s love

There is nothing you can do to diminish God’s love for you

Jeremiah 31:³The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

3) Power of God’s love for you is stronger than death

Romans 8:³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

³⁶ As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

4) Cost of God’s love for you is free for you, cost everything for Him –

Your cost is explained in Ephesians 2:⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast

His cost is explained in Isaiah 53:¹ Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

² For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

³ He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

⁴ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

⁸ He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

⁹ And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

¹¹ He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

5) Depth of God’s love for you is that of a father and His identity

 Who is the Father?

2 Corinthians 1: ³Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Mercy = not giving what is deserved

Comfort = relief and consolation; freedom from pain and anxiety

Psalms 103: ¹² As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

¹³ Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

¹⁴ For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

What does God’s love for you mean to you?

How can God’s love for you help in your current circumstances?

Do you really know God’s love for you?

Redeeming Love – Bill and Gloria Gaither

From God’s heaven to a manger-From great riches to the poor
Came the Son of God to seek and save

From the azure halls of heaven To a rough and rugged cross
Jesus came, and there His life for all He gave

From a loving, Heavenly Father To a world that knew Him not
Came the man of sorrows, Christ the Lord
In my wanderings He found me Bought my soul with His own blood
Gave to me a peace this world could not afford

[Chorus:]
Redeeming love, a love that knows no limit Redeeming love, a love that shall not die
My soul shall sing throughout the endless ages With choirs extolling this great love on high

My soul shall sing throughout the endless ages

With choirs extolling this great love on high
Redeeming love, redeeming love.

Redeeming love reaches out – claims – buys back – sets free – makes new

 

Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will        accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

Three kinds of things happen to each of us on a regular basis. Sometimes it seems like they happen almost every day.

• Things we need serenity to accept
• Things we need courage to change
• Wisdom to know the difference.

The solution for overcoming what life throws at you is Jesus Christ.

Here are five questions with Biblical answers for you to ponder.

Q1 -How can you live one day at a time? Psalms 25:

⁸Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

⁹The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

¹⁰All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

¹¹For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it isgreat.

¹²What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

¹³His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.

¹⁴The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

By letting Jesus be Who He is: your teacher, your Guide; your forgiver

What can you do to be a better student?

Q2 – How can you enjoy one moment at a time? Philippians 4:

⁶Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

⁷And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 John 1:

⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

By giving your anxiety to Jesus; praising Jesus and accepting His forgiveness

What things keep you from giving Him your anxiety? Fear? Pride?

What things keep you from accepting His peace?

What things keep you from accepting His forgiveness?

Q3 – How can you accept life on God’s terms? Psalms 51

¹To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.) Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

²Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

³For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

By accepting His loving kindness, His tender mercies and His cleansing

How much mercy do you need?

How do you see His tender mercies helping you during hard times?

Q4 -How can you take this sinful world as it is, the way Jesus took it? Matthew 23:

³⁴Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; andsome of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

³⁵That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

³⁶Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

³⁷O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

James 4:

⁵Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

⁶But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

⁷Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

⁸Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse yourhands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

By drawing near to Jesus Crist and submitting to Him

How close to Jesus do you allow yourself to be?

Q5 – How can you trust Jesus Christ to make all things right? 1 Peter 5:

⁶Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

⁷Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

⁸Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

⁹Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

¹⁰But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

¹¹To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 3:

¹¹He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

¹²I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

¹³And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

¹⁴I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

When we ask God to change us, He shares the responsibility with us

Why is so hard for you to accept God’s timetable?

Conclusion – Our ability to be successful no matter what life throws at us depends on our willingness to lean on, rely on, and completely trust our loving Savior, Jesus Christ. Would you agree?

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms –Elisha A. Hoffman, 1887

What a fellowship, what a joy divine, Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, Leaning on the everlasting arms.

chorus

Leaning on Jesus, leaning on Jesus, Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning on Jesus, leaning on Jesus, Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, Leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Hebrews 12:

¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will         accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti

How would you define yourself?

Do your circumstances define you? Does your job define you? Does your past define you?

Do relationships define you? Does your enemy define you?

Just whom do you see yourself to be?

When you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He makes you new!  2 Corinthians 5:¹⁷ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Guard yourself! Do not let anything or anyone define you. Claim your identity in Jesus Christ alone!

Your Identity in Jesus Christ

    1) Alive –Colossians 2: ¹³ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

John 5:²⁴ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

1 John 3: ¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

2) Accepted –Ephesians 1:⁶To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

3) Beloved with an everlasting love –Jeremiah 31:³The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Ephesians 2:⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

⁷ That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

4) Caused to triumph in Christ Jesus – 2 Corinthians 2:¹⁴ Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

5) Chosen before the foundation of the world-Ephesians 1:⁴According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

6) Created for Him – Colossians 1: ¹⁶ For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

7) Delivered from the power of darkness –Colossians 1:    ¹³ Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

8) Forgiven of all trespasses and sin– Colossians. 2:¹³ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Colossians. 1:¹⁴ In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Ephes.1:⁷ In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

9) Free –John 8:³¹ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

³² And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

10) Healed with His stripes – Isaiah 53:⁵But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

11) Heir-Galatians 4:⁴ But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

⁵ To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

⁶ And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

⁷ Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Romans 8:⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

¹⁵ For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

¹⁶ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

12) His workmanship Ephesians 2:¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

13) Indwelled by Christ – Colossians 1:²⁷ To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

14) Indwelled by the Father-Ephesians 4: ⁶ One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

15) Indwelled by the Holy Spirit –John 15:²⁶ But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:¹³ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

16) Justified – Titus 3:⁷That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal

17) Laborer together with God-1 Corinthians 3:⁹ For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

18)  New –Ephesians 2: ¹⁵ Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

Ephesians 4:²⁴ And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Colossians 3: ¹⁰ And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

19) Reconciled to God – Colossians 1:²¹ And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

²² In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

20) Redeemed from the penalty of death and slavery to sin –Galatians 3: ¹³ Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

¹⁴ That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Titus 2:¹¹ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

¹² Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and   godly, in this present world;

¹³ Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

¹⁴ Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

21) Regenerated – Titus 3:⁴But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

⁵ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

⁶ Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour

22) Risen with Jesus Christ – Colossians 3:¹If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

23) Sufficient in all things through His grace-2 Corinthians 9:⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

24) Translated into the kingdom of Jesus–Colossians 1: ¹³ Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Circle the three that matter most to you right now

Your identity for His Service

1. A) Entrusted with the gospel-1 Thessalonians 2:⁴ But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

1. B) The Light of the world -Matthew 5:¹⁴ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

1. C) The salt of the earth -Matthew 5: ¹³ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

1. D) Called to follow -1 Peter 2:²¹ For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1. E) Chosen and ordained -John 15:¹⁶ Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you

Circle the three that matter most to you right now

Questions for Reflection

1) What factors determine how you see yourself?

2) What about circumstances determine how you see yourself?

3) Does the way people treat you determine how you see yourself?

4) Do the things people say about you determine how you see yourself?

5) Are you believing something someone else said about you that doesn’t match what Jesus says about you?

Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good  plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through  you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti