Everyone needs to be loved for who they are

not for what they do,

not for what they look like,

not for what they have accomplished,

not for what they possess

God loves you for who you are – His creation. He designed and created you to be you – not like any other person in all the world, in all of history. You are His unique creation. There is only one you!

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

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;

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.

The Father’s identity is love according to 1 John

⁸ He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

What will you do with God’s love for you?

Will you accept God’s love for you or reject God’s love for you?

Our Creator is not a dictator. He has not created us to be His puppets. He has given to each of us free will. We are able to choose to accept His love and enter into a relationship with Him because Jesus Christ took the punishment for our sins through His death and resurrection.  We are able to reject His love and count on our own judgment and abilities to navigate through life.

This is the age of grace.

But there is coming a time when your life on earth will end and you will face God as judge. Because God loves you and me, He gives us this free will. Because God is righteous, He also will judge our choices.

If we receive God’s love in the Person of Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior, our judgment was carried out at Calvary.

If we reject God’s love in the Person of Jesus Christ, we will be judged for our sin, the wages of which is death, eternal separation from the God Who loves us.

Who would want to face the only Person, Who ever loved you unconditionally, and know your rejection of His love causes you to be separated forever from Him? God loves you so much He allows you to choose.

Jude gives guidance for those who receive God’s love in the Person of Jesus Christ-Jude:

²¹ Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Focus on God’s love for you

Thank God for His love for you

Celebrate His love

Share God’s love with others

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

Where are you today? Do you feel overwhelmed? Anxious?  Perplexed? Defeated? Discouraged?

You and I live in a fallen creation. Sin and death have entered the world. No man can see God face-to-face as Adam and Eve did.  Jesus Christ wants us to walk by faith in Him, His love and His power, not by sight. When you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, His enemy becomes your enemy. Your enemy wants to steal your testimony, destroy your witness and take down many others with you. However, Jesus came that you might have abundant life.

John 10:

¹⁰ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

¹¹ I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

But Jesus Christ wants you to reign in life and have victory over the wiles of your enemy. In contrasting death/life, judgment /justification for the Romans, Paul gives these amazing statements

Romans 5:

¹⁴ Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

¹⁵ But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

¹⁶ And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

¹⁷ For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

¹⁸ Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

¹⁹ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

²⁰ Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

²¹ That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Major Points

By one man’s offense death reigned

By the abundance of grace and gift of righteousness we shall reign in life by Jesus Christ

By Adam’s disobedience we became sinners

By Jesus’ obedience we become righteous

Sin reigned unto death

Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord

What does it mean to reign? Here are some definitions

to possess or exercise sovereign power or authority

to have control, rule, or influence of any kind.

Reigning in righteousness is all about the resurrection power of Jesus Christ and not at all about the power of you and me. Here is what Paul says in his second letter to the 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:

Will you still sin? Yes! But Jesus Christ provides His solution in 1 John 1:

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

Questions for Reflection?

1) No matter what accusations others throw at you, Jesus’ gift of righteousness enables you to exercise sovereign power over sin. How is that significant to your current circumstances?

2) How can you exercise your authority over your sin nature?

3) Which wiles of your enemy are most affecting you now? How can you use the abundance of grace and gift of righteousness to reign in life over sin?

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! Who took on flesh Fulness of God in helpless babe!

This gift of love and righteousness Scorned by the ones He came to save:

Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied –

For every sin on Him was laid; Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine – Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath. Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,

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

You and I live in a fallen creation. God has not changed. He is still good. He is still love. He is still intimately concerned with the well-being of His creation. But sin and death have entered the world. Sure, Adam and Eve walked with God every day and talked with God face-to-face every day. But you and I cannot see God face-to-face. Everyone is born with a fallen nature that is rebellious and sinful. Sometimes our circumstances bring pain. Those painful circumstances blur our focus from Jesus Christ; His love for us, His care for us, His purpose for us.

In his letters Simon Peter reminds us of four precious things for those who belong to Jesus Christ. These are precious things we can hold onto during the hard times of life. These precious things belong to you and me regardless of our circumstances!

The definition of precious: of high price or great value, highly esteemed

1) Precious blood of Christ -1 Peter 1;

¹⁷ And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

¹⁸ Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

¹⁹ But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

²⁰ Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

What makes the blood of Jesus precious?

His blood purchased you and me Acts 20:

²⁸ Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

His blood justifies you and me- Romans 5:9

⁸But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

⁹ Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

His blood provides redemption and forgiveness of sin for you and me Ephesians 1:7

⁴ According 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:

⁵ Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

⁶ To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

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

His blood provides reconciliation for you and me – Ephesians 2:

¹¹ Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

¹² That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

¹³ But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

¹⁴ For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

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;

¹⁶ And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

His blood provides sanctification for you and me- Hebrews 13:12

¹² Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

His blood provides an everlasting covenant for you and me – Hebrews 13:

²⁰ Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

²¹ Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

His blood provides cleansing from sin for you and me – 1 John 1:

⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

His blood provides washing from sin from sin for you and me – Revelation 1:

 ⁵And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

His blood provides redemption for you and me Revelation 5:

⁹And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

2) Precious Person of Jesus- 1 Peter 2:

¹ Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

² As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

³ If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

⁴ To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

⁵ Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

⁶ Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

⁷ Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

⁸ And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

What about the Person of Jesus seems most precious to you today?

3)  Precious faith -2 Peter 1:

¹ Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

4) Precious promises -2 Peter 1:

² Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

³ According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

⁴ Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Promises to cling to

Hebrews 13:5

⁵ Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

1 John 1:9

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

John 3:16

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 14:

¹ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

² In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

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

You and I live in a fallen creation. Sin and death have entered the world. Mankind can no longer see God face-to-face. These lessons examine Jesus Christ’s solution for the discord men and women now face in marriage. Now let’s focus on the man.

Original purpose of the man –Genesis 2:

¹⁵ And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

The man chose disobedience to God -1 Timothy :

¹⁴ And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

Disobedience brought consequences to the man – Genesis 3:

¹⁷ And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

¹⁸ Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

     ¹⁹ In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast    thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Disobedience brought discord between the man and the woman-Genesis 3

¹⁶ Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Desire = feelings that compel one to attain or possess something

Jesus Christ loves you and me so much He gives us free will

You and I can choose our choices but not the consequences to follow.

The man’s responsibilities to his wife and to Jesus Christ

 

1) Dwell with your wife according to knowledge- 1 Peter 3

Give honor to your wife as the weaker vessel and an heir together of the grace of life

⁷ Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Dwell =to live with

Honor =high respect and public esteem

Vessel=a person regarded as a holder or receiver of something, especially something nonmaterial

Grace = unmerited favor, God giving us what we do not deserve

Life =state of existence

2) Love your wife as Jesus Christ loved the church-Ephesians 5:

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

²⁶ That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Do you see a responsibility of the man to present his wife at the end of life’s journey to Jesus?

3) Love your wife as your own body

²⁸ So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

4) Nourish and cherish your wife

²⁹ For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

³⁰ For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Nourish = to strengthen, build up, or promote

Cherish = to care for tenderly

5) Leave your father and mother to become one with your wife

³¹ For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

6) Love your wife as your self

³² This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

      ³³ Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

7) Study God’s Word to answer your wife’s questions

³⁴ Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

³⁵ And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

By ourselves we cannot live these obligations. We need Jesus – John 15:

⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Questions for Reflection

1) Is it easy or hard for you to accept your role in marriage assigned by Jesus Christ?

2) How easy is it for you to live your responsibilities to your wife? Why?

3) Which responsibility is easiest for you to live? Why?

4) Which responsibility requires the most effort from you? Why?

5) Do you see a link between lessons learned in your meaningful experiences and the ease or effort required to fulfill your responsibilities to your wife?

6) What 3 qualities do you want your wife to see in you?

7) What actions will you take to live those 3 qualities?

8) Why not ask Jesus to help you –John 15:

 ⁷ If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Notice Jesus says ‘unto you’ not ‘for you’ – Why do you think He chose those words?

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

You and I live in a fallen creation. Sin and death have entered the world. Mankind can no longer see God face-to-face. This lesson examines Jesus Christ’s solution for the discord men and women now face in marriage. First let’s focus on the woman.

Original purpose of the woman –Genesis 2:

²⁰ And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help fit for him.

²¹ And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

²² And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

²³ And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

The woman trusted her eyes and her judgment rather than what God said -Genesis 3:

⁶ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Jesus Christ loves you and me so much He gives us free will

You and I can choose our choices but not the consequences to follow.

Disobedience brought discord between the man and the woman-Genesis 3:

¹⁶ Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Desire = feelings that compel one to attain or possess something

The wife’s responsibilities to her husband and to Jesus Christ

 

• Be in subjection to your husband-1 Peter 3:

¹Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

² While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

Subjection =    submission

Chaste =          decent, undefiled, simple

Conversation = manner of life

Fear =              reverential trust in Jesus Christ

⁵ For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

⁶ Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

Afraid          = feeling apprehension, regret, reluctance, unwillingness

Amazement =  overwhelming astonishment

Example of Sara before Abram was saved-Genesis 12:

¹⁰ And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

¹¹ And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:

¹² Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.

¹³ Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

Notice Abram’s words seem to focus only on himself?

Do you listen only to your husband’s words?

Example of Sarah after Abraham was saved-Genesis 20:

¹ And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.

² And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

Do you see any concern from Abraham for Sarah’s well-being?

How can you apply this to your own marriage relationship?

Submit as unto the Lord-Ephesians 5:21

²¹ Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

²² Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

²³ For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

²⁴ Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Submit as is fit in the Lord –Colossians 3:18

¹⁸ Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

Submit =       yield oneself, allow oneself to be subjected, defer to another’s opinion or decision

Notice you are to submit to your own husband, not to all men. Why is this important?

• Adorn self with meek and quiet spirit and subjection to your husband- 1 Peter 3:

      ³ Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

⁴ But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Adorn =           enhance, make more pleasing

Meek =            humbly patient, gentle, kind

Quiet =            restrained in speech and manner, being at rest

• Reverence your husband – Ephesians.5:33

³¹ For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

³² This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

³³ Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Reverence =  a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe; or the outward

manifestation of this feeling

How can you show reverence for your husband by your words?

How can you show reverence for your husband by your actions?

4) Act in the Name of the Lord –Colossians 3:

¹⁷ And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

5) Love your husband God’s way – 1 Corinthians. 13:

⁴ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

⁵ Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

⁶ Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

⁷ Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

⁸ Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

By ourselves we cannot live these obligations. We need Jesus – John 15:

⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Questions for Reflection

1) Is it easy or hard for you to accept your role in marriage assigned by Jesus Christ?

2) How easy is it for you to live your responsibilities to your husband? Why?

3) Which responsibility is easiest for you to live? Why?

4) Which responsibility requires the most effort from you? Why?

5) Do you see a link between lessons learned in your meaningful experiences and the ease or effort required to fulfill your responsibilities to your husband?

6) What 3 qualities do you want your husband to see in you?

7) What actions will you take to live those 3 qualities?

8) Why not ask Jesus to help you –John 15:

 ⁷ If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Notice Jesus says ‘unto you’ not ‘for you’ – Why do you think He chose those words?

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

Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, God’s only Son, came to earth in human form 2000+ years ago. The Bible says He came to bring salvation to the lost humanity and to restore the original God/man relationship.  Remember, due to man’s disobedience sin, bringing the death penalty, entered the world. John 3:

¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

¹⁵ That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

The Bible shares very little about the growing-up years of Jesus Christ. But there is this amazing glimpse in Luke 2:

⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Since Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, perfect, God’s only Son, how could He grow in favor with God? The answer is found in Proverbs 3:

³Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

⁴ So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Mercy =compassion or kindly forbearance given to an offender

Truth = honest, integrity

There will always be people who criticize you because we each have different points of view, backgrounds, experiences. There will even be some people who hurt you, sometimes by accident and sometimes intentionally.

Is there someone in your life who often criticizes or offends you?

How can you best show kindly forbearance to that person?

Do you want to increase in favor with Jesus Christ?

The Bible gives specific directions for how to handle that one who criticizes, offends or even hurts you. Colossians 3:

²³ And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

²⁴ Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

²⁵ But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons

Is this to be easy? No, we live in a sinful, fallen creation. However, jesus Christ promises His help. Here are His words given right before He submitted to the punishment for your sins and my sins and recorded in John 15:

⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

⁶ If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

⁷ If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

⁸ Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

⁹ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

¹⁰ If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

¹¹ These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Do you desire to bear fruit?

Is your joy full?

Tell it to Jesus Christ

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

On the best sellers’ list, there is a book about the politics surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. So who would you say killed Jesus Christ?

1-Some say the Jews killed Jesus Christ. Luke 23:

¹³ And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

¹⁴ Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

¹⁵ No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

¹⁶ I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

¹⁷ (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

¹⁸ And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

¹⁹ (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

²⁰ Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

²¹ But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

²² And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

²³ And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

²⁴ And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

²⁵ And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

So we see that some of the Jews wanted Jesus Christ crucified.

2-Some say the Romans killed Jesus Christ. Matthew 27:

²⁷ Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.

²⁸ And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

²⁹ And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

³⁰ And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

³¹ And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

³² And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

³³ And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

³⁴ They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

³⁵ And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

³⁶ And sitting down they watched him there;

³⁷ And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

³⁸ Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.

³⁹ And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

⁴⁰ And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

⁴¹ Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

⁴² He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

⁴³ He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

⁴⁴ The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

⁴⁵ Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

⁴⁶ And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

⁴⁷ Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.

⁴⁸ And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.

⁴⁹ The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

⁵⁰ Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

⁵¹ And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

⁵² And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

⁵³ And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

⁵⁴ Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

So we see that Roman soldiers executed the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

3-Some say that you and I killed Jesus Christ.-John 3:

¹⁴And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

¹⁵ That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

²⁰ For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

²¹ But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

So we see that the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ were for saving you and me from death.

4-What does Jesus Christ say about His own crucifixion and resurrection?-John 10:

¹¹ I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

¹² But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

¹³ The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

¹⁴ I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

¹⁵ As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

¹⁶ And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

¹⁷ Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

¹⁸ No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Imagine! Jesus Christ has power over life and death and He chose to use that power to provide an avenue for you and me to be redeemed from the death sentence; reconciled to our Creator; forgiven of all our sins; given new life; bequeathed an inheritance of rest, freedom from sin, abundant living, our bodies to be the temple of the triune God while we live on the earth; and a dwelling place forever in His physical presence.

Why Should He Love Me So – Robert Harness,

Love sent my Savior to die in my stead; Why should He love me so?
Meekly to Calvary’s cross He was led; Why should He love me so?

Nails pierced His hands and His feet for my sin; Why should He love me so?
He suffered sore my salvation to win; Why should He love me so?

O how He agonized there in my place; Why should He love me so?
Nothing withholding my sin to efface; Why should He love me so?

Why should He love me so? Why should He love me so?
Why should my Savior to Calvary go? Why should He love me so?

Questions for Reflection

1)  What does the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ mean to you?

2) What does the love of Jesus Christ for you mean to you?

3) Have you received His gift of salvation? All you need to do ism just tell Him you agree you are a sinner and can not save yourself. Thnak Him for what he has done and received Him as your Lord and Savior.

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

Worship is ascribing worth-ship.

Do you find Jesus Christ worthy of your worship?

In Matthew’s account we find two opposite approaches to ascribing worth-ship to Jesus Christ.

The wise men followed the star to find Him to worship Him –Matthew 2:

¹ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

² Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him

¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

¹¹ And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

¹² And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Notice the Bible does not tell us how long they travelled nor how far they travelled nor how they knew the Bible prophecy of the promised Messiah. But they believed and acted on that belief.

What do you find worthy in Jesus Christ to worship Him?

What steps do you take to worship Him?

Church attendance? Daily devotions? Living every moment with Him?

King Herod ascribed no worth-ship to Jesus Christ and actively tried to destroy Him – Matthew 2:

³ When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

⁴ And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

⁵ And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

⁶ And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

⁷ Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

¹⁶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

God ascribes worth-ship to Jesus Christ

1) Jesus Christ is worthy because He is the Creator of all things- Revelation 4:

¹⁰ The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

¹¹ Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Glory =   great praise, distinction

Honor =  high respect and esteem

Power =  great authority to act and accomplish

2) Jesus Christ is worthy because He has redeemed by His blood unto Himself- Revelation 5:

¹ And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

² And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

³ And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

⁴ And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

⁵ And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

⁶ And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

⁷ And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

⁸ And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.

⁹ And they sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

¹⁰ And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

¹¹ And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

¹² Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

¹³ And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

¹⁴ And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Have you been redeemed? John 3:

¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

¹⁵ That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil

Do you find redemption a reason to ascribe worth-ship to Jesus Christ?

3) Jesus Christ is worthy because He humbled Himself and was obedient even unto death- Philippians 2:

⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Humility    = modest estimate of one’s own rank or importance

Obedience = submissive compliance

Lord          =master, chief with authority, control, power over others

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

God provided the birthplace location of His promised Messiah in 8^th century B.C.-Micah 5:

² But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

 

Jesus Christ always performs His word!

Do you find confidence in His faithfulness and ability to do what He says He will do?

Can you fathom the wisdom behind a prediction 700 years before it happens?

Observations on the way to Bethlehem-Luke 2:

³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

 

The trip was about 80 miles. Notice the Bible does not give details on how they travelled. There is no mention of a donkey. Were others caravanning with them or were they alone? Did they go slow and stop often due to Mary’s pregnancy? Did Mary walk? The Holy Spirit gives us only what details He deems necessary for our understanding.

It is sufficient for us to know that Joseph took his espoused wife, already pregnant, with him and that Mary obeyed.

Is Jesus Christ asking you to obey in some way that seems difficult to you?

What lessons do you see in the obedience of Joseph?

What lessons do you see in the obedience of Mary?

 

Observations at Bethlehem-Luke 2:

⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

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.

¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

¹⁶ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

 

Notice the text does not read that the inn was full. There was no room for them.

 

Have you ever felt unwanted?

What does it mean to you that the Creator would send a message of peace and good will to His rebellious creation?

What does it mean to you that Jesus Christ is both Savior and Lord?

 

Observations after Bethlehem-Luke 2:

¹⁷ And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

¹⁸ And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

 

How did the shepherds respond?

 

How did those who heard respond?

It seems amazing to me that they wondered. What an understatement!

Didn’t they know the scripture?

Why didn’t the priests call for national celebrations?

Why didn’t they run to look on the Messiah and worship Him?

Do you do more than just wonder about these events?

 

How did Mary respond?

 

How do you respond?

Have you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?-John 3:

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

What about the wisemen? Although the Christmas events are recorded in Luke, the visitation by the wisemen to the Christ child is recorded in Matthew. The wisemen did not worship Jesus in the manger.

Matthew 2:

⁷ Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

⁹ When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

¹¹ And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

 

Notice the wisemen entered the house not the stable with the manger.

Notice Jesus was a young child at this time not a new born.

 

What does the faithfulness of the wisemen in following the star mean to you?

Have you received God’s gift of Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord?

 

O little town of Bethlehem-Phillip Brooks, Lewis Redner

O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie!
Above your deep and dreamless sleep, The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light.
The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight.

 

For Christ is born of Mary, And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love.

O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God, the King, And peace to men on earth.
How silently, how silently, The wondrous Gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still, The dear Christ enters in.

 

O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sins and enter in, Be born to us today.
We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell:
Oh, come to us, abide with us ,Our Lord Emmanuel!

 

 

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

Where are you today? What are your circumstances? Some seasons in life are stressful. Some seasons in life are exciting and enjoyable. Where you are today is no mistake. Jesus Christ cares intimately about you.  Remember Whose you are!

 

In all the world over and in all of history, Jesus Christ made only one you. There is none other exactly like you. You have special physical attributes, personality, strengths, limitations, preferences, talents, abilities, and spiritual gifts. There is only one you. You are unique, designed and created especially by Jesus Christ for His good pleasure. Revelation 4:

¹¹ Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

 

Jesus Christ never makes junk. Remember His observation of creation in Genesis 1:

⁴ And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

¹⁰ And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called He Seas: and God saw that it was good.

¹² And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

¹⁷ And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,

¹⁸ And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

²¹ And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good

²⁵ And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

³¹ And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

 

Jesus Christ designed a unique race for you to run, from the moment you receive Him as your Lord and Savior until you cross the finish line into His physical presence and complete His unique purpose for your life. 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.

 

Facts to hold onto during your journey

 

1) Jesus Christ created you from His own unique design. There is only one you-Job 33:

⁴ The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

Psalms 139:

¹³For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

¹⁴ I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

¹⁵ My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

¹⁶ Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

¹⁷ How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

¹⁸ If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

 

2) Jesus Christ loves you with an everlasting love-Jeremiah 33:

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.

there is nothing you need do to make Him love you more

there is nothing you could ever do to make Him stop loving you

 

3) Jesus Christ has designed a specific plan for your life-Jeremiah 29:

¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

 

4) When you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He re-creates you new

-2 Corinthians 17:

¹⁷ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

James 1:

¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

¹⁸ Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

 

5) Jesus Christ has designed specific tasks for you to accomplish- 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.

 

6) Jesus Christ is able to work the situation for good, even when your circumstances hurt.

He is working the situation for your good and working in you to make the situation good.

Romans 8:

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

²⁷ And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

³⁰ Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

³¹ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

³² He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

 

7) Jesus Christ desires to live all your experiences with you-Matthew 1:23

²² Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

²³ Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Hebrews 13:

⁵ Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

What do these verses mean to you?

 

Are you allowing Emmanuel to run your race with you?

 

Which of these facts is difficult for you to believe?

 

Which of these facts matters most to you?

 

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