Opportunity Knocks...
October Reading Plan: The Book of Acts
October Memory Verse: Isaiah 60:1-2
Prayer Requests Go Here.
New to SHINE? Go Here.
“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Act 9:5-6
The life of Paul is blowing my mind.
His life teaches us about surrendered faith. Bold faith. Fearless faith. Reckless faith.
All of this from a man who had once killed others that believed in Jesus.
Paul's ministry is transformed before our very eyes. Day by day he gets bolder, more wisdom, more courageous.
We can learn so much from this book of Acts
Paul's ministry went from zero to a million in just a few years. I mean, wow. God was stretching Paul, growing Paul, and rooting Paul deeper and deeper into his faith.
His life unfolded so quickly once he accepted the Truth of Christ on that road to Damascus where He was struck blind. [Acts 9]
He went from persecuting Christians, to being one of the absolute greatest preachers for Jesus Christ of ALL time. He wrote 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament.
Do you see what happens when the Holy Spirit begins to reside in our hearts? God's plan for us starts to unfold. The birthing of our new life in Christ takes place! The old life is left behind...thank goodness!
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17
I will give you one guess who wrote the scripture above.
Yes, PAUL!
Paul understood what a new life was all about! He knew firsthand what happens when we invite Jesus as our Lord and Savior!
We are NOT THE SAME. EVER.
[and did you just hear me shout "THANK YOU JESUS?!"]
So, if you have accepted Christ as your Savior, know that you are not the same person. You are a new creation designed by God to bring Him glory.
"everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." Isaiah 43:7
Maybe you woke up today to the same old grind. Maybe you are unsure of anything God is doing in your life. Maybe you are not feeling so shiny and new in Christ.
Let me let you in on a little secret...
The very fact that you woke up this morning, breathing air into your lungs...
Means that God is still doing a work in you life! He still has a purpose for you that would blow your gorgeous little mind!
We often only see the temporal in life...this is the world's way.
However, when we open our eyes to the eternal, God's view, we see an out of this world view!
When we can begin to wrap or brains around the fact that we are made to bring God glory, we begin to have a new sparkle in our eyes. A spring in our step. A purpose in our days.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Sweet ones, you were made to bring Him glory. You.
The next time you start to believe otherwise, speak Truth to that lie. The Truth of God's Word cannot lie.
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19
Just like Paul, your past is history.
Let me repeat that one more time: Just like Paul, your past is history.
Take a step, move forward.
Get on the greatest journey of your life! He has so much for you.
His desires for you will give birth to more desires. Those desires will birth even more desires. Slowly molding you into the perfect creation that He has planned for you.
May he grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed. Psalm 20:4
Just like Paul from the book of Acts, there will never be a moment when He is not wanting to use you. Somewhere, someplace, someone.
There is ALWAYS an opportunity.
Always.
Lord, show us our path today. Guide us to the places, the people, and the opportunities that You desire for us. Give us a fresh realization of your purpose for us. Let us never forget the truth that we were created for your glory. Just like Paul, put passion and purpose in our hearts! We love you so much and we thank you for another day to serve You.
opportunity is knocking,
jill
October Memory Verse: Isaiah 60:1-2
Prayer Requests Go Here.
New to SHINE? Go Here.
“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Act 9:5-6
The life of Paul is blowing my mind.
His life teaches us about surrendered faith. Bold faith. Fearless faith. Reckless faith.
All of this from a man who had once killed others that believed in Jesus.
Paul's ministry is transformed before our very eyes. Day by day he gets bolder, more wisdom, more courageous.
We can learn so much from this book of Acts
Paul's ministry went from zero to a million in just a few years. I mean, wow. God was stretching Paul, growing Paul, and rooting Paul deeper and deeper into his faith.
His life unfolded so quickly once he accepted the Truth of Christ on that road to Damascus where He was struck blind. [Acts 9]
He went from persecuting Christians, to being one of the absolute greatest preachers for Jesus Christ of ALL time. He wrote 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament.
Do you see what happens when the Holy Spirit begins to reside in our hearts? God's plan for us starts to unfold. The birthing of our new life in Christ takes place! The old life is left behind...thank goodness!
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17
I will give you one guess who wrote the scripture above.
Yes, PAUL!
Paul understood what a new life was all about! He knew firsthand what happens when we invite Jesus as our Lord and Savior!
We are NOT THE SAME. EVER.
[and did you just hear me shout "THANK YOU JESUS?!"]
So, if you have accepted Christ as your Savior, know that you are not the same person. You are a new creation designed by God to bring Him glory.
"everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." Isaiah 43:7
Maybe you woke up today to the same old grind. Maybe you are unsure of anything God is doing in your life. Maybe you are not feeling so shiny and new in Christ.
Let me let you in on a little secret...
The very fact that you woke up this morning, breathing air into your lungs...
Means that God is still doing a work in you life! He still has a purpose for you that would blow your gorgeous little mind!
We often only see the temporal in life...this is the world's way.
However, when we open our eyes to the eternal, God's view, we see an out of this world view!
When we can begin to wrap or brains around the fact that we are made to bring God glory, we begin to have a new sparkle in our eyes. A spring in our step. A purpose in our days.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Sweet ones, you were made to bring Him glory. You.
The next time you start to believe otherwise, speak Truth to that lie. The Truth of God's Word cannot lie.
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19
Just like Paul, your past is history.
Let me repeat that one more time: Just like Paul, your past is history.
Take a step, move forward.
Get on the greatest journey of your life! He has so much for you.
His desires for you will give birth to more desires. Those desires will birth even more desires. Slowly molding you into the perfect creation that He has planned for you.
May he grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed. Psalm 20:4
Just like Paul from the book of Acts, there will never be a moment when He is not wanting to use you. Somewhere, someplace, someone.
There is ALWAYS an opportunity.
Always.
Lord, show us our path today. Guide us to the places, the people, and the opportunities that You desire for us. Give us a fresh realization of your purpose for us. Let us never forget the truth that we were created for your glory. Just like Paul, put passion and purpose in our hearts! We love you so much and we thank you for another day to serve You.
opportunity is knocking,
jill
