Feb 28

Focusing on the mission Christ has for us

It's Saturday...and Adrienne Gautier is getting married today!....

Lift a special prayer for her and her fiance Jonathan -- that Christ may be their guide throughout their married lives.

Today's devotion continued with yesterday's reading: John 4:1-42. There's so much to study and pray about in those verses. I hope that reading them again today brought new insights and more reflective moments in prayer with God.

Father, my prayer today is that you will help me to stay focused on my view of the world and miss what You have set in front of me. May I be attune to your voice a

nd be spiritually ready for service for You throughout this mission trip. May our impact be more than just "spreading joy through songs," but many opportunity to change lives.

YESTERDAY'S SONIC WINNER IS:

AARYN ELLIOT

Yes, she did it again. Yeah!....Congrats Aaryn.

Thank you for taking many times throughout these two weeks and reading your devotion and sharing your comments on the blog. I appreciate all of you who have been sharing on the comment page. It has not only blessed me but many, many others who have been reading your thoughts.

TODAY'S SONIC QUESTION IS:

Share with me a prayer that you have for this mission trip.

Looking forward to worshiping with you tomorrow! Don't forget to bring your devotional for our 4 pm meeting. Be sure to have Stephanie check it. Lastly, we're singing and leading worship on Sunday night. I sent you an email yesterday about our Sunday schedule and what music we're singing. You can also go on planningcenteronline.com and check it yourself. Last reminder: all of our music and scripture verses need to be memorized by our rehearsal tomorrow.

Bless ya,

Ken

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Feb 27

An issue of the heart

It's Friday....time for a Sonic break!

Chad, Stephanie and Ken at the Sonic...

having a quick slushy while waiting to get the Sonic winner cards!

Only two days till we have another opportunity to corporately worship our Lord. Speaking of worship, "how should we worship?," you ask. Today's scripture passage deals with the issue of worship, specifically verses 23 & 24:

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth.

Many of our questions about worship are like those of the Samaritan woman. We ask where and how questions because we want to settle issues of form. Jesus' answers cut across form to deal with reality, with spirit and truth. She asked a question about art, Jesus responded with the issue of the heart. She asked Jesus where worship ought to be done, Jesus responded with what worship is.

"The place of worship is irrelevant, because true worship must be in keeping with God's nature, which is spirit. In John's Gospel truth is associated with Christ, a fact that has great importance for the proper understanding of Christian worship" (NIV study notes).

Read below an excerpt taken from a writing by Bob Kauflin:

Harold Best, in his book, Music Through the Eyes of Faith, defines worship in the broadest sense as "acknowledging that someone or something else is greater -- worth more -- and by consequence, to be obeyed, feared, and adored. . .Worship is the sign that in giving myself completely to someone or something, I want to be mastered by it. (pg. 143)

We want to be mastered by the objects of our worship. And indeed we are. We worship whatever rules our time, energy, thoughts, longings, and choices. "Those who make them [idols] become like them; so do all who trust in the

m." (Psalm 115:8, ESV)

A definition of worship that I appreciate for its simplicity and clarity is by Warren Wiersbe, who writes: "Worship is the believer's response of all that they are -- mind, emotions, will, body -- to what God is and says and does." (Warren Wiersbe, Real Worship, p. 26)

Today's devotional doesn't deal with worship as much as the woman at the well meeting Jesus, eventually trusting in Him and then sharing her knowledge and faith in Him with her village. Like her, we too can be a vessel that God can use. All we need to be is be willing.

YESTERDAY'S SONIC WINNER IS:

HANNAH JOHNSON

Congratulations Hannah. Thanks for sharing on the blog. Your comments as well as all the students and adults who shared over the past two days have truly blessed and enriched my spirit. Continue sharing because it touches many lives by the experiences you have had on your journey serving the Lord.

-- SONIC QUESTION OF THE DAY --

Tell me how you define worship.

You may write your own or look up what others say and pick one that you like.

Worshiping the Risen Lord,

Ken

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Feb 26

Empowered by the Spirit

Wow -- a great devotion today. We can do "all things through Christ who strengthens [us]" by God empowering us through the Holy Spirit. Do YOU believe it or think that it's impossible to have God work through you?

Jesus told us that "what is impossible with men is possible with God" (Luke 18:27) and an angel of the Lord told Mary, the mother of Jesus, when announcing that she was going to give birth to the Son of God, "For nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:27).

God has empowered His people, from the very beginning, to minister and proclaim His glory to all. Bro. Phillip always says that we should store up treasures in heaven, for they will last for all eternity. I am so thankful that God allows us the privilege, honor and joy of participating in His kingdom work here -- a work that will last forever! The devotion today shares the scripture John 15:16. It's worth reading it again, but let me also include the verses surrounding it:

John 15:14-18 (New International Version)

¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. ¹⁷This is my command: Love each other.

We are to be about the Father's business -- every day -- throughout the day! That's our assignment -- to allow God empower us to work in and through us!

1 John 4:9 (New International Version)

⁹This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

Read the bold words again. So, what is Christianity? Our devotion today said that it "is not a set of regulations and instructions but a life-giving relationship with the person by whom and for whom we were created."

Let's live each day to the fullest -- open to what God has in store for us in His kingdom work. Are you ready?

God, my prayer today and every day is that you will empower me to be the person I am meant to be, every day, every moment as I live for you.

YESTERDAY'S SONIC WINNER IS:

CARLYN MARIE SOREY

Congrats! Thanks for sharing from your heart -- it has enriched my spirit every time that you have opened up on the blog! (You may have to share your card with your mom in recognition for her continuos writing in the blog.)

Thank you to each of the students who shared yesterday -- I was blessed by hearing your stories of opportunities that you have had to share Jesus with others!

TODAY'S SONIC QUESTION IS:

As today's devotion discussed that God has from the very beginning selected and empowered His people to minister to those around them, tell me a special time that you were able to minister to someone.

Empowered by the Spirit,

Ken

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Feb 25

God's chosen method

It's Wednesday!...and tonight you have the opportunity and privilege to participate in worship and bible study at Studio 412. May we never take for granted that we have the freedom to come together and praise our Lord whenever we want. Many around the world do not have this and it costs them their freedom or even their life if they choose to worship and study God's Word.

So, have a great time with friends and give praise to our Lord like it's your last time. Oh, and take some time tonight to deliberately talk to students that you don't know or don't know very well. Make them a priority and say something to encourage them. It's living out the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12).

Today's devotion and scripture passage was short, yet very powerful. Think about it, God 's chosen method to reach the lost is by our sharing. WOW!...He could share Himself in so many ways, yet, He desires to use us in a very, very important way that determines people knowing about eternity with God.

I know that it doesn't seem easy to talk about "spiritual things" with your friends or people that you don't know. Nevertheless, someone shared it with you, with each of us who know Jesus as Savior and Lord. Let's be BOLD and share the goodness of Jesus!

Acts 28:31 (New International Version)

³¹Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

TODAY'S SONIC CHALLENGE WINNER IS:

RAVEN RILEY

(She's the one on the right. The other two girls are also going to Scotland)

Congratulations and thanks to all of you who shared your favorite "trust" Bible verse with me yesterday.

Bro. Phillip shared with the congregation about these verses we read today on many occasions. When speaking about verse 19, he said "Go therefore" means "as you are going." COOL -- that means that we're to do this as part of our daily lives, same as eating and sleeping. How's that going?...eating, sleeping and sharing? Make this your prayer today that God will give you an opportunity to share your faith with someone this week!

-- SONIC QUESTION OF THE DAY --

Share with me your most recent time that you shared your testimony or spoke with someone about Jesus.

As you are going...

Ken

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Feb 24

God knows

I want to begin today's blog by first thanking Robert, Julie and Jenny for writing and putting together this great 30 day devotional. Each day has been so timely in preparing us for this important mission trip.

After reading today's scriptures as well as the devotional, two words kept popping up in my mind: "God knows." He knows those whom call Him Lord as well as how He can use each one of us in reaching this world with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. All we need to do is surrender!

-- SURRENDER --

to give oneself up, as into the power of another; submit or yield.

Why is it so hard for us to surrender our will for His will in our lives when we know that God wants what's best for us! Romans 8:28 says:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,

who have been called according to his purpose.

It is my prayer and desire that each of us allows God to work in and through us in order to reach the world -- reach Scotland -- for Christ! Join me in this prayer right now...

Lord, as we surrender to Your will, please use each of us to reach out to all the students we come in contact with in Glasgow. Amen.

A special thanks to all the students who continue to read their daily devotional, visit the blog and comment on the question of the day.

Our winner for yesterday's Sonic challenge is:

Aaryn Elliott

Congratulations...(oh, a vanilla coke sounds great right now...no, a slushy or a shake....can't decide!)

I apologize to the students who tried to post a comment last night but were unable to do so. Unfortunately, Google had a major computer problem last night and today and this blog site is hosted by them. Thank you for sending your comments to my email account. If it does not work tonight as well, please email me your comment to today's question at: kenm@fbcbentonville.org

TODAY'S SONIC QUESTION OF THE DAY:

Type out one of your favorite scripture verses that speak about trusting God

and tell me why it's so meaningful to you.

Thanks Dave for sharing your thoughts yesterday on the devotional scripture passage. Wow, God is truly amazing and His love and mercy is unimaginable. Students, don't miss what the others are writing every day on the blog....read on, read on!....

Just got an email from Timesia Hart....she couldn't get on the blog comment page last night either....here's what she said about yesterday's devotional:

I am currently taking a micro nutrient class and just thinking about what all our human body needs to function as efficiently as possible I begin to think in terms of my spiritual body, and what I need do allow God to do in order that the spiritual man inside of me would function as God would have it to function. I thought of the "bread of life" spoken of John 6:34. We must eat food as nourishment for our physical bodies, but our spiritual bodies need nourishment that can only come by "real relationship with Jesus", Pastor always say that "it is impossible to have a relationship with someone that you do not spend time with". Today I have recommitted time to developing a stronger relationship with my Savior which involves time in His word, and time on my knees talking to Him. It is that time spent that will bring nourishment to my spiritual man that I will be full of Him fit to serve in whatever capacity He directs me to. There is simplicity in this in that if I eat the right spiritual food I am spiritually fit!!! God may we all desire the spiritual bread that only come from you to be spiritually fit in Jesus Name AMEN!!!!

Have a great evening!

Bless ya,

Ken

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Feb 23

Fit to Serve

"Be imitators of God as beloved children..."

Great devotional today...."Fit to Serve." After reading the scriptures and our devotion,

I wrote five things that will help me to always be fit to serve:

1. love others as Jesus loves us

2. walk away from sin and anything that might hinder me in our walk w/Christ

3. surround myself with Godly influences in my life.

4. keep my focus (attention and eyes) on God and His will for my life.

5. walk daily w/God through prayer, Bible reading, meditating on His Word through memorization.

A special congrats goes to yesterday's

Sonic Card winner:

Aaryn Elliott

Students, don't miss out on not doing your devotionals!....

spend the time each day reading and praying...

then take a few minutes to comment on the blog -- you could win the

Sonic Question of the day!

Thanks goes out to all the student s who have taken the time to

comment each day.

A BIG hello goes out to Aubrey Elliott from OBU....thanks for your

comments and prayers for our upcoming mission trip.

(I'm praying for a great end of your first year in college! I heard

that you're getting better with the piano every day!)

Students, don't miss reading what your peers and others are

saying on the blog each day. A special thanks to Jenny Sorey

for her contributions to the blog...read them, she has great insight!

Today's Sonic

Question of the Day:

I think that today's verses are so powerful in regards to the way that we

should walk everyday. Read them again....in fact, write out verses 15-17

in the comment box for today's question of the day.

Pray for the Scotland band -- we're practicing tonight....a lot of songs to

prepare, but each of the players are working very hard to be ready by

this Sunday.

Have a great night!

Bless ya,

Ken

Read More 6 comments | Posted by FBCBentonville

Feb 22

Here am I, send me!

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying,

'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?'

Then I said, "Here am I, Send me!"

Is that your prayer today?...every day?...

Today's devotional was very timely because the band will begin working this afternoon with just the Scotland students. This is the beginning of preparing ourselves to be flexible on our trip. Are you flexible?...This much?

I think that I wouldn't be able to get up if I went to this position!

Our trip has been in the planning stages for over 1 1/2 years and has taken many people to work on the details from: where to stay, eat, what schools to have concerts, song list, transportation, sound & media needs, fund-raising, binders and devotionals to name a few!

Yet, even though all the details, that we can think of, have been made, we must always stay flexible and allow God to use us whenever and however He desires. Sometimes when a person plans so much of his or her life, he or she ends up unwilling to budge if something has to be changed. There have been many "detailed" people helping to plan this trip. Please know that all of these folks know that we must daily give the "planned" agenda over to God and be sure that this is still His agenda.

May our prayer be: "Take my life and let it be, consecrated, Lord to Thee!"

Yesterday, we had two folks who answered the Sonic question...Ms. Stephanie and another musician randomly pulled the winner for today and it is:

Congratulations Hannah Montgomery!

Keep up on your daily devotionals ... bring your binders every Sunday.

Sonic Question for today is:

write out Isaiah 6:8 on the comment page and tell me what you think it means.

Keep praying daily for our mission trip. It's not long now!....

On my knees,

Ken

Read More 4 comments | Posted by FBCBentonville

Feb 21

Sunday's coming!

Hey friends!...I'm so excited to be able to worship with our fellowship on Sunday. I just wish you were going to help lead worship tomorrow. But soon, in fact next Sunday night (March 1st), you're leading!

I hope that your Saturday is going well...just checked yesterday's comments and realized that only 1 student sent in a comment.

Well, I am excited about who won today (especially since she has made a comment each of the four days and hasn't won yet)...

Sonic is awaiting the newest of our winners:

My own daughter...

Hannah Montgomery!

Don't forget to keep working on your Scotland binder daily devotional. Be sure to bring your binder with you at our Scotland 4 pm meeting.

So, what did you think about Saturday's devotion? I truly believe that God desires the best for each of us -- including peace and contentment.

Psalm 37:4 says to delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, His desires will become our desires and His Will will be what we want to follow and desire. In studying this verse, I once read this statement: "What is the desire of the heart of a good man? It is this, to know, and love, and serve God."

In today's lesson, I truly believe that if we keep our eyes continually focused on God and His will for our lives, that we will have peace and contentment. I didn't say an easy and wonderful life that the world would view as great, but peace from within -- from God -- surrendered to Him by denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily and following Him.

I found this picture when I was thinking about surrendering to Him and

worshiping Him with my whole being. Powerful pic, right?!!

Ok, Sonic question for today:

Tell me about your heart's desire in

respect to Mission Scotland.

Open a comment page and let me know.

Have a great Saturday. See you tomorrow.

Blessings,

Ken

Read More 3 comments | Posted by FBCBentonville

Feb 20

I have the Power...You have the Power!

Congratulations...you're finished with school for a few days (except for the weekend homework, right?)! It's a great day -- sunny and warmer...with a little wind. Reminds me of our scripture passage for today from our 30-day devotional.

Acts 1:1-8 talks about how we receive power from the Holy Spirit. As we become a Christian, not only do we receive eternal life but also the Holy Spirit who gives us the POWER to serve our Lord and be witnesses to what He has done in our lives with everyone we meet. As I read this passage I see that Jesus is not requesting us to do this, but says and you will be my witnesses (vs.8). We have been given the incredible occasion to be His witnesses "to the ends of the earth" when we travel to Scotland!

What's so amazing about this trip is that not only do we have the opportunity to give two concerts a day which we can share what we believe (with "one voice"), but have the unbelievable opportunity to speak in every classroom in all four schools. But don't worry, as Christians, we have the Holy Spirit, who will work in and through us to do the Will of God. How exciting! During the next two Sunday 4:00 pm meetings we will discuss and practice what we're going to say and do during our classroom times for each school.

"Ok, Ken, Ok...tell me who won yesterday's Sonic card," ...I hear you, I hear you!...

The winner of Thursday's card is:

RAVEN RILEY

(Congrats Raven. You will receive your card this Sunday at our 4:00 pm meeting.)

Wow, two winners already....who's going to get it today?....Well, you can't know without today's question and you can't win without adding a comment on this website....so let's get started!....

Ms. Stephanie loves Sonic too....but I wouldn't let her keep all the cards,

only hold them till Chad, Stephanie and I got back to church.

You want to win one of these cards in Ms. Stephanie's hands?....Well, answer the question below in the comment section of the blog and we'll put your name in the hat tomorrow and see who wins Saturday's card of the day.

-- QUESTION OF THE DAY --

Are you feeling a little anxious or worried about this mission trip?....tell me about it....

Don't forget to continue to fill out your daily devotional pages and bring your binder to our Sunday meeting! (Stephanie needs to see each student in order to check them off.)

Have a great Friday night....talk to you later!

Ken

Read More 3 comments | Posted by FBCBentonville

Feb 19

It's Thursday...but Friday's acomin!!!....

Hoy es jueves, pero, manana es viernes...

(Can you believe that you can become bilingual on this blog as well!....cool! In case you don't know what I said, ... "today is thursday, but tomorrow is friday.")

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO TEE CALLIHAN!!!

She is the first winner of our daily Sonic card.

(Tee, you'll receive your card at our 4:00 meeting on Sunday.)

What did Tee do to win a sonic card, you ask? She read the blog and posted a comment to answer the question of the day. Then she was placed in a hat, along with others who posted and was then randomly drawn. (She had a 50/50 chance of winning yesterday 'cause there were only two students who commented. Hannah Montgomery was the other student yesterday who commented. (Hannah, don't be disappointed, keep up the good work with your 30 day devotion and daily answers to the blog questions!)

Ok, now to today's devotional. Psalm 119 is a great passage in the Bible. I especially like 119: 9-11. Say, let's make that the question of the day. Please type out Psalm 119:11 on the comment page for today's Sonic gift card question. (You may want to place this on your actual binder page for today as well.) Read verse 10...it's very powerful..."With all my heart I have sought you..." Have you sought God that much? Tell me your thoughts on the comment page. Verse 11 shares insight in helping us to follow God closely..."Your word I have treasured in my heart..." It's right there in black and white....we need to study and MEMORIZE God's Word. Why?...the rest of vs. 11 tells us....you look it up and write it in the comments for today's question.

A special thanks to Jenny Sorey for posting a great comment yesterday. Have you read it....take a moment and look it up. (She always has some great insight!)

Stephanie, Chad and I are going to pick up the cards at Sonic right now....we'll take pictures....(I know, I know, you're saying: "Why does it take three people to pick up a gift card." I heard you...and come back saying: "One to drive, one to pay, and one to take pictures...we're union and don't do anyone else's job!")

Have a great day -- can't wait to see who win's today!

Bless ya,

Ken

Read More 5 comments | Posted by FBCBentonville

412 Praise

1 Timothy 4:12

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Mission Scotland 09 Blog

Focusing on the mission Christ has for us

An issue of the heart

Empowered by the Spirit

1 John 4:9 (New International Version)

God's chosen method

Acts 28:31 (New International Version)

God knows

Fit to Serve

Here am I, send me!

Sunday's coming!

I have the Power...You have the Power!

It's Thursday...but Friday's acomin!!!....

412 Praise

1 Timothy 4:12

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