God's Power is made perfect in Weakness

 

God's Power is made perfect in Weakness

The Bible reveals a paradox: God's power is perfected in our weaknesses. This challenges the world's view of strength, inviting us to rely on God's power rather than our own.

Jesus embodied this principle. His strength in adversity was remarkable, but His greatest display of power came through His weakness on the cross. This sacrifice brought salvation to humanity.

Key scriptures illustrate this concept:

Mark 14:38 - Watch and pray to avoid temptation, acknowledging the spirit's willingness but the flesh's weakness.
Psalm 119:62 - Rise at midnight to thank God for His laws, seeking guidance and strength in darkness.
Matthew 16:18 - Jesus builds His church on a rock, demonstrating power beyond human limitations.
Isaiah 54:17 - No weapon prevails against God's servants; they are vindicated by Him.
Luke 10:19 - Authority is given to overcome the enemy's power.
James 4:7 - Submit to God and resist the devil.
Deuteronomy 28:7 - Enemies are defeated before God's people.

These scriptures showcase God's power in weakness.

Credit to Keith M. Craddock's family Bible study, introduced by Isaac Craddock.

Meta AI Response: God's Power in Weakness The Bible reveals a paradox: God's power is perfected in our weaknesses. This challenges the world's view of strength, inviting us to rely on God's power rather than our own. Jesus embodied this principle. His strength in adversity was remarkable, but His greatest display of power came through His weakness on the cross. This sacrifice brought salvation to humanity. Key scriptures illustrate this concept: Mark 14:38 - Watch and pray to avoid temptation, acknowledging the spirit's willingness but the flesh's weakness. Psalm 119:62 - Rise at midnight to thank God for His laws, seeking guidance and strength in darkness. Matthew 16:18 - Jesus builds His church on a rock, demonstrating power beyond human limitations. Isaiah 54:17 - No weapon prevails against God's servants; they are vindicated by Him. Luke 10:19 - Authority is given to overcome the enemy's power. James 4:7 - Submit to God and resist the devil. Deuteronomy 28:7 - Enemies are defeated before God's people. These scriptures showcase God's power in weakness. Credit to Keith M. Craddock's family Bible study, introduced by Isaac Cra

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Love as an Action, Not a Feeling

Love as an Action, Not a Feeling

As humans, we often associate love with feelings of warmth, affection, and attachment. We may feel love for our family, friends, or our romantic partner

, and we may even feel love for activities, hobbies, or causes that bring us joy. But what about when those feelings aren't there? Does that mean we don't love anymore?

Loving People When Feelings Aren't There

Sometimes, we might not feel love for certain people in our lives. Maybe we're going through a tough time with a family member, or perhaps we're struggling to connect with a friend. But here's the thing: love is not just a feeling, but an action. We can choose to love people even when we don't feel like it.

We can show love through our actions, such as:

Spending quality time with them
Listening to them when they need someone to talk to
Helping them out when they're in need
Being present for them during difficult times

Even when we don't feel love for someone, we can still choose to love them with our actions.

Applying the Same Principle to Our Relationship with God

I've found that the same principle applies to my relationship with God. There are times when I don't feel His presence or love, but that doesn't mean I stop loving Him. Instead, I choose to love Him through my actions, such as:

Showing up to prayer and worship
Reading Scripture and seeking to understand His character
Serving others and loving my neighbor
Trusting in His sovereignty and goodness

By choosing to love God with my actions, even when I don't feel like it, I'm able to deepen my relationship with Him and experience His love in new and powerful ways.

Conclusion

Love is not just a feeling, but an action. We can choose to love people and God Himself, even when we don't feel like it. By showing love through our actions, we can build stronger relationships, deepen our faith, and experience the power of love in our lives.

 

Making a Difference, Side by Side

 Making a Difference, Side by Side

As a parent, there's no greater joy than sharing meaningful experiences with your child. My son and I have recently embarked on a new adventure together – volunteering at a local thrift store. Every week, we dedicate time to helping those in need, and it's been an incredibly rewarding experience.

Making a Difference:

By volunteering at the thrift store, we're helping to provide essential services to our community. The store offers affordable clothing, household items, and furniture to those who need it most. Our efforts help ensure that these items are available, organized, and accessible to those who rely on them.

The Impact of Our Work:

Our weekly volunteering sessions have a tangible impact on people's lives. We're helping:

Families in need: By keeping the store organized and stocked, we're enabling families to find affordable essentials.
Individuals experiencing homelessness: The store provides vital resources, such as clothing and personal items, to help individuals get back on their feet.
Seniors and vulnerable adults: Our efforts help ensure that seniors and vulnerable adults have access to affordable household items and clothing.

Why Volunteering Together Matters:

Quality Time: Volunteering together provides an opportunity for us to spend quality time, creating memories and strengthening our bond.
Teaching Empathy: By giving back, my son is learning to put others before himself, developing essential life skills like empathy and selflessness.
Building Character: Volunteering helps shape my son's character, teaching him the importance of responsibility, hard work, and community involvement.

Our Experience:

Every week, we look forward to our volunteering day. We've met incredible people, heard inspiring stories, and seen firsthand the impact of our efforts. My son has developed a sense of pride and ownership, knowing that he's contributing to something bigger than himself.

Conclusion:

Volunteering with my son has been a game-changer for both of us. It's taught us valuable lessons, strengthened our relationship, and given us a sense of purpose. By giving back to our community, we're not only helping those in need but also investing in our own growth and well-being.

Bless Family and Home

 "Bless Family and Home"

A family bible study by Keith M. Craddock

As followers of Christ, we are called to be a blessing to our families and homes. But what does that look like in practical terms?

Choosing to Serve the Lord

In Joshua 24:15, we read:

"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

Joshua is giving the Israelites a choice: they can serve the Lord, or they can serve other gods. But Joshua makes it clear that he and his household will serve the Lord, no matter what.

The Spiritual Battle for Our Homes

In Ephesians 6:12, we read:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

This verse reminds us that there is a spiritual battle going on for our homes and families. Satan wants to destroy our relationships and our faith, but God wants to bless and protect us.

Blessing Our Families and Homes

So how can we bless our families and homes? Here are a few ideas:

Pray for your family: Take time each day to pray for your family members and ask God to bless and protect them.
Serve your family: Look for ways to serve your family members, whether it's cooking a meal, helping with chores, or simply listening to them.
Create a peaceful home environment: Make your home a peaceful and welcoming place by playing uplifting music, displaying encouraging artwork, and keeping a tidy and organized space.

Conclusion

Blessing our families and homes is a choice we make every day. We can choose to serve the Lord and prioritize our relationships with our family members. We can pray for our families, serve them, and create a peaceful home environment. Let us commit to blessing our families and homes today.

Reflection Questions

What are some ways you can bless your family today?
How can you prioritize your relationships with your family members?
What does it mean to you to create a peaceful home environment?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to bless our families and homes. Give us wisdom and guidance as we navigate the challenges of family life. Protect us from the spiritual forces of evil and fill our homes with Your peace and love. In Jesus' name, Amen