Week 5 · Wednesday

Salvation by Grace Alone
by Dan Metzger

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. 

This is one of my (and all Christendom’s) favorite verses. Coming from a religious background based primarily on works, understanding this passage was mind boggling. No matter how hard we try, we cannot work our way to heaven; we cannot pile up enough good works to be acceptable to God. My mentor in my early Christian days illustrated the concept of works-based salvation this way: it would be like lining up everyone on the West Coast and have them try to swim to Hawaii. I might make it a couple of hundred yards, Mark Spitz (this really dates me) maybe a hundred miles, but we would all fall short of the goal of Hawaii and we would drown. Trying to make ourselves acceptable to God through our good works is just as futile, since the gulf between God’s holiness and our sinfulness is so great. Though some might rack up many more good works than others, we all will fall terribly short.
But God has another plan—salvation by grace through faith as a free gift! What a liberating concept that was when I first heard it. It’s only through faith in Christ’s atoning death that the gulf can be bridged between God and us. I do good works, not to appease Him, but out of gratitude for all that He has done.

Prayer: Thank You for offering salvation to me through faith in Jesus, a free gift I so very much did not deserve. Help me to rest in the security of that salvation and lead me to do good works out of a grateful heart. Give me opportunities to share this good news with others today.

God's Mercy and Grace
by Ron Goodwin

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God… 

God’s grace, what is it? What does it mean? The best definition I have heard is undeserved favor. It’s undeserved because we can never be righteous enough or perform enough good deeds to earn salvation. Eternal life comes by the grace of God and not by works, lest any man should boast. The Bible says we should still do good works and acts of righteousness, which will please and honor God, but they won’t buy us a ticket to heaven. If we could have saved ourselves, God wouldn’t have had to send Jesus to pay the price for mankind’s sins. It’s better this way because if some of us could have been good enough, we would be proud and would look down on others and we would not have loved God as much for His mercy and sacrifice.
Pride is condemned repeatedly in the Bible and always goes before a fall. We have seen that in history. Pride was the cause of the very first sin. The angel Lucifer became so proud he wanted to replace God and take over heaven.
The New Testament speaks about certain acts of righteousness—prayer, fasting and charity—which are to be done in secret. Good deeds, on the other hand, are to be made known so people will see God’s work being done and then give praise to God. So, salvation comes by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, which leads to love of God and others and manifests itself in good deeds and acts of righteousness.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, today I may be facing a difficult situation not knowing the right decision or a temptation I may not resist. I need Your guidance and if I falter, Your grace is sufficient for me.

Week 5 · Monday

Offender Forgiven
by Christy Harvey

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”

MERCY (mer-cy): That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart, which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves. It implies benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity or compassion, and clemency, but exercised only towards offenders. Mercy is a distinguishing attribute of the Supreme Being (1828 Noah Webster Dictionary).
Offender seems like a strong term used only to describe criminals, but an offender is anyone who does wrong towards another. Overall I would not consider myself as an offender, but that is not how God saw me. For many years of my life I lived what I thought was the Christian life. I grew up in a Christian home, went to a Christian school all the way through college, and did everything a good Christian was supposed to do. Over the years it just seemed like something was always missing.
On August 3, 2009 the reality of my life finally struck home. I'd now been serving 7 years in ministry, and God by His mercy called me to Himself. A pastor had shared with us 3 ways to check your salvation. The third question was, "Do you have peace and assurance that you are a child of God?" During this whole session the Holy Spirit was working on me. The moment he asked that third question I knew I did not have peace and assurance. I knew that day was the day I had to give my all to Christ; no matter what others thought, God in His mercy was drawing me to Himself. His mercy poured out on my prideful self, as so many times I felt Him calling me, but my fear of what others thought always stood in the way. Praise God that He is merciful to all of us and has made a way for us to be forgiven.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your mercy—that while we are still sinners, and Your greatest offenders, You have made a path of forgiveness and eternal life for us.

Week 5

Rules of the Road

Obey the speed limit. Come to a complete stop. Don’t drive on the wrong side of the road. These are all rules of the road. As a former law enforcement officer, I (Dan) know that ignorance is not an excuse for breaking the rules (and I’ve heard ‘em all). If you do not obey the rules of the road you may find yourself having an uncomfortable chat along side the road with a blue-suited stranger. Even worse, you may be involved in a crash.

The rules of the road in the Christian life are even more important. We cannot save ourselves, no matter how much good we try to do. We are only saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. No getting around it…that’s how it is. God’s rule is this…You must believe in Jesus Christ and receive the gift of God’s grace in order to arrive safely in heaven. Avoid a crash, understand and obey the rules of the road. This week, we’ll hear stories about how the rules of forgiveness, obedience and grace apply in God’s Salvation.

—Pastor Dan

Week 4 • Friday

Before I Knew Him
by Tim Williams

Ephesians 2:1-2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air; the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

I was the youngest of three boys. As I grew up, I watched my brothers turn into party animals. Their actions bothered me so much that I vowed it would never happen to me.
After I entered high school, I wanted to be more popular, and my friends at that point wanted to party like everyone else. I resisted for a while, but the temptation was too great, I could not stand on my own. I was not a Christian, and had no effective way to fight the temptation, so I began to party.
One night I was lying in bed after being out with my friends, and I had a vision. Jesus appeared, and he had tears running down His face. I felt His love, and knew He wanted me to stop partying; He wanted me to follow Him! I wish I could say that I committed to Him right then and there, but I didn’t. He remained patient with me. As time went on, that night remained in my thoughts, and it changed my life forever. I finally asked God’s forgiveness and began to follow Him. In Hebrews 2:18 it says, “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Even before I knew Him, He knew me! I am also pleased to note, that both of my brothers are now Christians.

Prayer: Lord, help me to lean on You when the temptations come that I can turn away from them and turn toward You. Guide me and give me strength to follow Your path for my life.

Week 4 • Thursday

Living A Full Life
by Stephanie Bruckner

1 Corinthians 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

I really did feel that living for God would mean giving up a full life. There had to be a way to keep doing all of the things that I wanted to do and fit in a couple of things for His kingdom here and there, right?
I love to be in control and giving your life to Christ is the ultimate submission. I was surprised to discover that when I gave myself to Him a huge weight was actually lifted off of me. I’m learning how to ask God where He wants me to be and what He wants me to do with my life and my family.
He makes things so clear when you ask Him. Ironically, I am now living a full life and I am more at peace than I ever was before I gave my life to Christ. I still struggle but I can do everything through Him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13).

Prayer: Lord, thank You for caring enough about me to want me to live the right way, the best way, Your way. Thank You for Your guidance and patience. You are awesome.

Week 4 • Wednesday

My Pride
by Hope Teeters

James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

“What is happening to me?” Waves of terror enveloped me and left my mind and body lifeless and exhausted. These attacks were becoming more frequent, and with each one I felt myself sinking deeper and deeper into depression.
It had been two years since my precious Trinity had arrived. She had been born with severe anomalies that only affect a handful of people across the entire world. We were so grateful to have her, considering the doctors had recommended terminating our pregnancy because they said she would be “incompatible with life.” Thank the Lord they were wrong! We were seeking medical advice from the leading experts across the country; I had our nine therapies a week down to a science. Throw in a couple doctor appointments and I was good to go, or so I thought. I wanted to stay in control of the situation, keep myself ahead of the grief and stay positive for my family and myself.
All of this produced diagnosed anxiety attacks. They were, in my mind, an ugly embarrassment that I couldn’t control. I was helpless, but I didn’t want to ask for help. Jason and I prayed for understanding and mercy, but God desired something else. It wasn’t until I humbled myself and asked our small group from church to pray for me that God set me free. PRIDE, one of the “seven deadly sins,” was getting in the way of God’s healing. He wanted me to step out in faith, trusting Him, to confess to other Christians and ask for their prayers.

Prayer: Lord, help me this day to resist the temptation of pride and humble myself. Help me to eliminate the focus on myself, and rely on You and Your Word.

Week 4 • Tuesday

I Am with You Always
Kenneth Clements

Matthew 28:20 And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

The greatest gift ever given to us by God was the gift of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. To accept Him as our personal Savior is the single most important decision we will make. I can remember when I was thirteen years old, I accepted Christ as my personal Savior.
My family was very happy for me but the main trouble I had was my friends’ reactions. Most of them could not understand what was so important about accepting Christ, so they made fun of my newly found faith. As a young Christian this was a very difficult time. To be ridiculed for your faith is one of the most painful things to experience. One thing we must remember through this is that Christ has promised us He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Though people may not take you in with open arms after accepting Christ, remember, He is with us always.

Prayer: Lord, help me today to remember that no matter the reaction people give to me for accepting You, You will always be with me. Help me not to forget Your unconditional love for me and the sacrifice You made on the cross. Thank You for Your promise to never leave me. Amen.

Week 4 • Monday

Weakness
by Stephanie Bruckner

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weaknesses.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Weak, weak, weak…I am weak. In my life I have spent so much time justifying my actions instead of looking at the big picture—God’s picture. Before conversion I found myself focusing on other people’s faults, which made it easier to turn a blind eye to my own faults and very real sins. I spent so much time examining other people comparing myself to other people that it was easy to completely avoid eye contact with God.
I was baptized when I was a child but I know that my true conversion happened a few months ago. I finally acknowledged my utter need for God. God has such a unique plan for everyone and it is not hard to follow His plan if you allow Him to lead you. He is big enough and He does love you enough. I still have the same weaknesses but now I’m turning to God for strength, not myself.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for the strength I have never had before. Open my eyes to who You want me to be and what You want me to do. Continue to mold me and transform me.

Week 4: Navigating the Detours

Road trips usually include a few detours. Whether by poor navigation, the inevitable road construction, or the unexpected bathroom stops in the middle of nowhere. I (Caleb) once knew a girl who turned a four-hour trip into seven because she mixed up the names of a couple roads. That girl became my wife, so as a rule, I’m the one who does the navigating in the family.

Some detours take you the long way around. Some detours are bumpy and full of slowdowns. Still others take you places you did not want to go and make you see things you really did not want to see.

In our spiritual journey, detours can be costly. They distract us from the work God has for us, keeping us from the fulfillment that comes from doing God’s work. If we veer off course into sin or disobedience long enough, our destination can ultimately be altered, taking us away from God completely. Detours on the spiritual journey can be perilous. That is why it is so important to stay in the Word (our map), to keep godly counsel (our navigator).

The narrow path that leads to heaven will be strewn with temptation. We will be tempted to turn around. We will be tempted to take shortcuts. We will be tempted to take the easy road, the road of pleasure. God graciously helps us navigate our detours, as he did in this week’s stories. Paul encourages us to stay on course and to seek God’s help through the detours

—Pastor Caleb

Week 3 • Friday

Submission Found a House
by Elaine Metzger

Ephesians 1:22-23 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

We spent an entire summer looking for a house with a realtor. Finally we made an offer on a house for sale by the owner. They made a counter offer and we were down to haggling over whether or not they would throw in the riding lawnmower. Over the weekend someone made them a better offer and we lost the house. I was heartbroken, yet my husband Dan was as even-keeled as ever. I poured my heart out to a good friend who reminded me that submission to our husbands was God’s good plan for us. She reassured me that God must have an even better house for us. But we’d already looked ALL summer! I knew she was right. It was the counsel I needed. I purposed to respect my husband’s judgment and go back to the drawing board. Graciously, God used another godly woman from our church, Maxine, to encourage me and to pray for us at a prayer meeting that evening.

The next morning we looked at another house. The location was better, the floor plan was better; the price was a lot better. We bought it. Two days earlier it wasn’t even on the market.  God doesn’t always bless my submissive spirit so abundantly or immediately as He did then, but He has taught me that He does always bless it.

Prayer: God, help me to trust You as Head over everything by trusting those You have placed in authority over me. I know You can see things I can’t and You have a plan for good for my life.

Week 3 • Thursday

The Three-Legged Know-It-All
by Vonda Snow

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight.

The aroma of freshly roasted hot dogs and Sloppy Joe saturated the air on that blistering afternoon of my fourth grade year-end picnic. My heart was pounding and beads of perspiration gathered on my forehead. My best friend, Caroline, and I were bound together in determination (and rope) to win the annual three-legged race. The teacher signaled, “On your mark, get set, GO!” We ran with all our might! All our practice was paying off! It looked like we might place and get one of those coveted ribbons. As we came to the other end of the field another teacher told us to stay right where we were because we had just won third place. I was sure this teacher did not know what she was talking about and I convinced my friend to turn around with me and go all the way back down the field to the starting line so we could win a ribbon. In the end, the teacher explained to us that we would not receive the third place ribbon because we had not listened and followed her instructions. What a bummer!

How often in life do we rely on our own understanding, ignore God’s leading, and totally miss God’s best for our life? How often has our “I got this one covered, God” attitude convinced someone else not to listen to God’s voice (remember my friend Caroline)? Victory is a sure thing! We need only to trust in the Lord and acknowledge Him always!

Prayer: God, help me to focus every fiber of my being on You. Help me to trust Your heart even when I can’t feel Your hand. Thank You for the victory that is mine through Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Week 3 • Wednesday

Hawaiian Summer

by Caleb Hoskins

John 15:7-8 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit…

One summer I travelled to Hawaii with three other friends. Our plan was to live with one friend’s parents, find summer jobs, and do as much sight seeing and surfing as possible. But two weeks into our stay all my friends had jobs except for me. I knew I’d be going home early if I didn’t get a job, so I was frantic for days as I waited, until my devotional reading led me to John 15. Reading those words, I decided I first needed to give my plans to God—to “remain” in Him. I told God that if His plan was for me to stay in Hawaii then I would use my summer to glorify Him and not just to have fun. I continued to pray for a job, but I did so knowing that my purpose was to live my summer for Christ. Amazingly, within five minutes of “Amen” the phone rang; I had a job! It was the most obvious and immediate answer to prayer I’d ever received! I still had an amazingly fun summer; after all, it was Hawaii, but I looked for ways to serve Him that I would have otherwise missed. I obediently got involved at my friend’s church and made a lot of lasting friendships. I read through the entire Bible that summer and shared Christ with several people at my job. I wouldn’t trade any of that for a few extra hours at the beach.

Prayer: God, give me eyes to see Your plans for me in every situation. Help me to submit my plans to You daily, because when I do, I always find something better.

Week 3 • Tuesday

Finding God's Power Through His Word
by Doris Ruppert

Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…

Have you ever felt like you had no more strength? Did your world seem to be crashing in all around you? Sure you have and so have I. During these times I turn to the only true power—God. I do this through saturating myself in God’s Word. I read it, memorize it, pray it, claim it, write it down in my journal and even pin it close to my heart. The Word of God is rich. It contains the power I need to overcome and to be victorious in this life and in the life to come. 

In particular, I remember a time in my life when I felt gripped with fear because of a situation. God laid upon my heart the Bible verse, found in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline.” I filled my mind and heart with this verse so that each time I felt this fear creeping upon me I could know that it was not from God and that through Jesus I could overcome.

The Word of God is alive and powerful. It even has the power to bring salvation. In the calm and in the storms of life remember to keep your tank filled to the brim with God’s Word and then you will have all the power you need.

Prayer: Lord, help me to soak Your Word in every pore of life. May I always turn to Your Word for the power I need instead of seeking any other source. Thank You for your faithfulness and strength. Amen

Week 3 • Monday

See You Later, Dad
by Jim Zaleski

1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

Cancer. It was a word I never had to deal with. And now it was active in my dad who was given six months to live. My mom had accepted Christ just before her death, twelve short months prior to this news, but my dad was not a believer in Christ. I was scared to death; I was about to lose my best friend. As I visited Dad during his many hospital stays, I had found the courage to mention salvation many times, but it fell on deaf ears.  No response. My current pastor was also making daily visits with Dad. “Brother John, we have to talk,” would be his daily opener.
In 1982, I had all but given up on Dad’s salvation until that Thanksgiving night in the emergency room. He reached over and placed his hand on my shoulder. “What’s the matter, Pop?” I asked. He replied, “You know, Charlie has been coming up to see me and you don’t have to worry about me anymore. I’m going to go see Mom. I know Jesus now.”
Praise God! My dad went into the arms of Jesus on December 2, 1982.  I praise God for His victory over death and the power of His salvation. It is His power that kept me believing. His grace and mercy had saved my dad.

Prayer: Whenever I think that something is impossible, help me to remember that all things are possible with You, God.

Week 3: "Where's the Next Gas Station?"

Have you ever run out of gas? I (Caleb) have! In high school, just after I got my permit to drive to school, I ran out of gas just a few blocks away from the school. My friends made more than a couple of jokes at my expense. Carrying that bright red gas can along the shoulder of the road is a lonely walk of shame. Embarrassing. Here’s the reality—fuel is the most basic necessity for your automobile; you simply cannot go without it. Following Christ isn’t easy. We were born into a sinful nature. The fuel that we need to follow Christ comes from beyond ourselves. The good news from Scripture this week is that God offers His power to us so that we can live our lives for Him. The same power that raised Christ from the grave is now available to us! You are not weak in Christ. You are not wasting away in Christ. You are not wishing against hope in Christ. You are an overcomer in Christ. This week, learn from these stories of God’s power, and choose to seek Christ’s power in your life.

—Pastor Caleb

Week 2 • Friday

I See
by Merva Zaleski

Psalms 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 was a day of anticipation for both the outcome of my stepfather Johnie’s eye surgery and the joyful excitement of the baptism celebrations that occurred that night. My stepfather had lost vision in one eye and was facing many unanswered questions and today the surgeon would try to find answers. The doctor’s good report gave us hope from God! As we headed home, I was reminded how very blessed we are to enjoy our eyesight and yet how we often take “seeing” for granted. Tornado warnings moved the baptisms from Clear Lake to the sanctuary that evening. The joy that each new convert felt during the baptism was contagious! A new vision for many! God was not done with my lesson on vision that day. As I pulled out of the BEAMING lights in the church parking lot, I suddenly realized that I had no vehicle headlights! It was only a couple of miles home, so I proceeded. In just a few short yards, I realized that I had made the wrong choice!  Fear and panic enveloped me as the threatening pitch black night surrounded me. I opened the windows, YELLING out my prayers and safely inched my way to the street corner under the security of a lone streetlight. From there I phoned my husband to come pick me up. Remember that our God provides not only our physical sight, but also His light, His vision and His direction in our daily lives.

Prayer: Father, I humble myself today, asking that I set my ‘sight’ on how I may best serve You.  Please give me the light of clear direction for my life.   

Week 2 • Thursday

Holding on to Hope
by Merva Zaleski

Psalms 25:5b ...for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.


As I recall the blur of medical treatments during my breast cancer in 2004, I am filled with gratitude for how God provided hope in each experience! Upon receiving this news, fear tried to take over, yet God revealed His presence in each new chapter of the adventure. After the second lumpectomy, three lymph nodes were removed and my family was told that I was clear of any cancer cells after surgery. Hope! A week later, the pathologist reports showed that nodes #1 and #3 did have cancer cells present, which was going to lead to more surgery.
God blessed me with a team of excellent doctors who questioned this finding and asked that the slides be sent to Vanderbilt University for confirmation of the results. Hope! In the midst of these days of confusion, our dear friend Gary called my husband and asked to come and pray with us. As we gathered with a few friends who truly believe in God’s healing power, Gary asked me to physically stand on the medical report! We prayed that our God would change the words on the report! Totally believing in God’s ability to give us hope, we waited.
It should come as no surprise that the revised report came back: node #1—negative, node #2—negative, and node #3—negative. God HAD physically changed the words of the report! Never give up hope in our magnificent and powerful God!


Prayer: Thank You Lord that You NEVER leave me alone. My hope is not in earthly things, but totally in YOU! Thank You for the hope You surround me with today!

Week 2 • Wednesday

Whatever!

by Eric Hoppstock

Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

As a referee on the field for Upward Soccer I get the best seat in the house and enjoy interaction with the players. In a game this past fall a particular young player had one breakaway after another only to miss the shot right in front of the goal. The crowd would cheer wildly only to be followed by the sigh of disappointment as the goal was missed. What brought a smile to my face was after one of the missed goals I said, “Oh so close,” to which this young player replied, “Whatever, I’ll make it next time!” This young person had it figured out; the joy was in the playing of the game and in trying time after time regardless of the outcome. He didn’t let the outcome of each shot or goal deter his effort and enthusiasm.

To get better in the game of soccer means playing the game, learning new skills, and, by practice, making those new skills habits. I think Paul would agree that the Christian experience is about pressing on toward becoming what we already are in Christ—to live up to the potential Christ already sees in us. What a thought! By the way, he scored on his final attempt.

Prayer: God, help me to understand that You are cheering for my effort and have great enthusiasm for me regardless of the outcome.

Week 2 • Tuesday

Wisdom for the Road

by Pastor Mark Slabaugh

Proverbs 1:20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public square. 

I’ve always been struck by Proverbs 1:20.  As the middle child, I watched my older brother to see the pitfalls he encountered and tried to learn from his mistakes. In the same way, I want to know the right way to follow Christ—how should I live?  What’s the best way to be a father/husband? How can I get this right the first time? (Yeah right!) I believe this verse tells us that God’s wisdom is available to us; it is not hidden when we need it most.

April 15, 2008 was a beautiful day—a warm spring afternoon.  My wife called to tell me she was in an auto accident. “It’s bad,” she said, “the kids seem to be okay, but the van is toast.” She was seven months pregnant, so I was thinking, “Who really cares about the minivan?” I ran out the door and jumped in the car. I was zooming to her location and I rationalized, “everyone should just get out of my way.”

But a brilliant piece of wisdom came to my mind as I was praying for my wife and unborn child.  It was a calm voice that said, “Mark, if you don’t get there safely, you won’t be able to help anyone.” As I slowed the car to a reasonable and safe speed I sensed God’s assurance that He would get me there in time. I’m glad His wisdom was available to me when I needed it most; but I’m also glad that I could hear His voice in the midst of anxiety. And, by the way, everyone is alive and well now.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for giving me Your wisdom when my own wisdom wasn’t enough. Forgive me for the times that I disregard or don’t bother to seek Your wisdom for my life. I want to seek You each and every day.

Week 2 • Monday

Childlike Faith

by Kendall & Bailey Snow (sons of Rod & Vonda Snow)

1 John 4:15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.

Kendall (13 yrs. old): I asked Jesus into my life when I was 6 years, old. It was when I was in my Grandpa and Grandma Ruppert’s class here at church. One Sunday they explained how to have your sins forgiven and become a forever friend of Jesus. I prayed with Matt, the class helper, and I put my trust in Jesus. Ever since that day, I have been walking with God and growing in my faith through reading His Word and prayer.

Bailey (9 yrs. Old): When I was 5 years old I gave my life to Jesus. It was a Sunday afternoon and Kendall and I had gone home with my Grandpa and Grandma Ruppert after church. We played for a while and then my brother and I had evening Bible devotions with my grandparents. I remember that Jesus was talking to my heart and I asked my grandparents if they could pray with me to trust Jesus as my Savior. I prayed to Jesus and He came into my life. Jesus is my best friend and I trust Him more and more everyday.

Prayer: God, help me to come to You with childlike faith. May I not attach any of my worries or doubts to the requests of my heart. Help me to simply walk in Your truth even when I can only see enough light for the step I’m on.

Week 2: Asking for Directions

Everyone has been there one way or another. Whether you were on the road, desperately searching for some familiar landmark or road sign to get you back on track, or whether a new task required a skill you had not yet acquired. We’ve all needed to ask for directions. Now, whether we sought help or chose to learn the hard way is another story entirely. But I think we can all admit we need help from time to time.

This book is a helpful guide for the next several weeks, but the Bible is the best source of guidance you will ever find. It is “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16). In it we can find the knowledge of God, discerning wisdom, and the hope to which He has called us.

The book of Proverbs says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” In our spiritual journeys we need other Christians who have been down our road before to coach us along. Yes, God is our ultimate guide, but He uses our friends, family, and loved ones to help us grow. Just as our church mission is “Leading People to Follow Christ,” find someone who is following Christ and may be just a little further down the path than you—and do as they do. This week we’ll hear stories of how God uses prayer, wisdom, Bible study and godly counsel to guide us. So don’t be afraid to ask Him for directions.

—Pastor Caleb

Week 1 • Friday

Set Free
by Bela Bruckner

Hebrews 4:16: Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

By the grace of God we have all been called to be His sons and daughters. It is our choice to call Him Father. For many years I was addicted to nicotine and for many years I asked God for His grace in quitting. But I was never able to quit. There were times when I felt that God, and the grace of God, had let me down because I could not stop. I now realize that it was not God that was letting me down; it was that I did not understand the way God’s grace works. 1 Peter 1:13 says, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

You see, the grace of God is ours, as the verse says, but when we ask God for His grace we must also be ready to use another tool that He has given us: self-control. By the grace of God I have been set free from nicotine. I walk in freedom today because of His grace; I stay in His grace by continuing to exercise self-control.

Prayer:  Lord, thank You for Your grace. I pray that with Your grace and the other tools that You have given me, I will walk in Your ways today.

Week 1 • Thursday

Just Propose Already!
by Jacene Hoskins

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.

My husband Caleb and I feel that God providentially brought us to Niles. It’s been just over three years since He took the Worship Pastor position at the church and God has been working in our careers, in our marriage, and in our church. But we didn’t always see this as clearly as we do now.

When we graduated from Bethel College in 2006 we had been together for two years. Marriage hadn’t really been talked about before then. But when I moved back home he followed shortly after and we both began working. We knew we loved each other, but Caleb wanted to have everything figured out—a pattern of this world—before he popped the question. But God wanted him to put his trust in Him. You see, Caleb wasn’t happy with his work and had been wrestling a call to ministry for quite some time. After much prayer and godly counsel, he took the step of faith and proposed, even without the rest of his future figured out. Amazingly, the very next month God confirmed his call to ministry and the position at First Missionary opened up, as if God had just been waiting for him to step out in faith.

Take a look into your life. Are there areas where you have conformed to the world’s pattern? God wants to transform that! And when He does, His plans for you are good; they are pleasing; they are maybe even perfect.

Prayer: Lord, help me to live a life where You constantly transform me. Show me today how I can be renewed and how I can serve Your perfect will.

Week 1 • Wednesday

God's Blessing to Me
by Janet Elms

Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit at the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night.

In 1997 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. That was a lot to deal with emotionally. At that time, I was volunteering on Saturdays to work with teens at Five Pines Ministries. Because of my diagnosis, I decided to take a break from volunteering. I really felt like I needed to spend more time praying and studying the Word. I needed answers. I was going to have to start treatment for my MS and I wasn't sure if I would be able to afford it. The shots were about $1000 for a month. During the couple of months off, I felt God laying it on my heart that I should share my testimony with the teens. I had never done that before. I don't like speaking in front of people. But I went with how I was being led. I spoke with the leader, Jim, who set a date for me to speak. I spent a lot of time in prayer beforehand and nervously shared my testimony. Afterward, Jim told me that they wanted to share something with me. One by one, ten teenagers came up and told me how they appreciated my testimony. But what I hadn't known was that while I was away, they felt led to bless me. They had raised money while I was gone. Each of those ten teenagers handed me $100 to use towards my treatments for a total of $1000! My first month paid for! I was blessed in more than monetary ways that day. I knew that both God and those teenagers cared for me.

Prayer: God, help me to delight and meditate on Your Word day and night.

Week 1 • Tuesday

The Messy Room

by Anderson Slabaugh (Son of Pastor Mark & Deborah Slabaugh)

Acts 10:43 He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.

One day my mom asked me to clean up my room—it was REALLY messy! So, I shoved all my toys in the closet because I thought it would be a quicker way to clean up my room. It saved me a lot of time. But, the next day, my mom was helping me choose clothes for school and she opened my closet. Uh oh!  All the toys fell out on her toes!

“You clean up your room again, Anderson Micah, don’t do that again,” my mom said to me.  I was sad that I was in trouble, but I knew that I needed to ask my mom to forgive me and tell her that I was sorry. I cleaned up my room the right way and I will never do that again.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I ask You to forgive me for not obeying my mom and not cleaning my room the right way. Help me to do things the right way and not just the quick way.  Amen.