from Lenae, GEMS Training Manager

 

At the Table

Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.

Luke 22:24

The disciples are at the table with Jesus. They drank from the cup and ate the bread with thanks. Unknown to them at the time, they were the original participants of the Lord’s Supper. While the taste of wine and bread is still on their tongues they’re disputing at the table as to which of them was considered to be greatest.

While Jesus’ mind is fixed on the suffering at hand, they’re stuck on status. While Jesus is focused on the cross, they’re wrapped up in their own concerns. They’ve missed the meaning of the shared supper.

Disputes around the table are not uncommon whether in the upper room, the church, or our own kitchen tables. How different mealtimes and life would be if we’d stop jockeying for positions of honor at the table and ask, “Who am I? That You would love me so gently? Who am I? That You would recognize my name? Who am I? That You would speak to me so softly? Conversation with the love Most High . . . who am I?” (“Who am I?” words and music by Nathan and Christy Nockels.)

At the table, Jesus teaches what it means to be truly great. He said, “For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27). Christ exemplified Kingdom service before the meal by bowing low and washing their feet. He demonstrated true greatness after the meal when He willingly offered His life.

Opportunities abound at the table to point people to God’s greatness:

• Begin and end each meal with thanks to God for the gift of His daily bread.

• Invite needy and broken guests to your table who cannot repay your favor.

• Share God Sightings. Have each person tell one way they’re seeing God at work in their lives or in this world.

• Show genuine interest in others. Laugh until it hurts, celebrate, share honestly, and ask thoughtful questions.

•  Serve wholeheartedly in meal preparation and clean up as if serving the Lord, not to impress your guests.

• Have more hunger and thirst for righteousness then what’s on your plate.

He>i: How can you use tonight’s meal to point others to God’s greatness?

What’s becoming clearer and clearer to me is that the most sacred moments, the ones in which I feel God’s presence most profoundly, when I feel the goodness of the world most arrestingly, take place at the table.

Shauna Niequist

Weekly Devotional "Once-Were Thoughts" 4/2/2013

from Lenae, GEMS Training Manger

 

Once-Were Thoughts

              But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:13

What’s the first thing that popped into your mind this morning? Morning thoughts can be telling, can’t they? Think about the initial thoughts of grief that Mary Magdalene and the other women must’ve had on that first Easter morning. Yes, on Easter morning. They woke up very early that morning to take spices they had prepared and went to the tomb (Luke 24:2). Tombs are for the dead, and they went expecting to see the dead.

But when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus (Luke 24:3). Angels shared the glorious news asking why they came looking for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! (Luke 24:5).

The next morning, think about how radically different their morning thoughts must’ve been. He’s alive! He’s alive! This changes everything! Jesus is alive!

Sisters, that’s our Monday morning story. He once was dead, but now He’s alive. It’s the great reversal! It’s the joyous news of what once was and what is today! Think on His Word. Focus on the difference between what once was and what is now for you and me today.

For now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13). The cross bridged the distance between God and us!

For you were once darkness, but now you are the light in the Lord. Live as children of light (Ephesians 5:8). The cross gives us purpose and guides our living. Shine your light!

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation (Colossians 1:21-22). The cross transforms our minds and lives. We’re no longer His enemies; we’re reconciled, holy, forgiven, and free!

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God (1 Peter 2:10a). The cross gives us our identity, and binds us to the Father and to one another as His family!

What unspeakable joy! We don’t live in the once was. That was then, this is now. We serve a risen Savior!

Think on it: Is there anything in your life today that belongs in the once was space in your life? For example: I once was a grumbler, but now I’m grateful. I once was a worrier, but now I trust Him in all things.

I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

John Newton

GEMS Area Fun Day ~ 6/8/13

We are excited to bring you the GEMS Area 28 Fun Day!  

Willow Lake is in northern NJ and is easily accessible from Route 15 (which you can access from Route 80). We understand that this location/distance is not feasible for all of our Area 28 clubs, but we hope that as many clubs as possible will take this opportunity to join us for a day of fun and fellowship.

The cost is $40 per person and that includes all of the day’s activities.  

We are excited to get as many GEMS together as possible! If you have ANY questions, please reach out to either of us!  Information and forms were mailed to Club Coordinators on March 6.  If you did not receive them or need additional copies, please let us know.

Looking forward to a fun day!

Lisa & Amy

Weekly Devo "Hypocrisy of the Heart" - 3/4

from Lenae, GEMS Training Manger

 

Hypocrisy of the Heart

              Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:8

If one is good, two is better, right? Well, that depends. When it comes to chocolate, yes, yes, of course! But being double-minded is another matter entirely. James tells us that double-minded people are unstable (James 1:8). They have divided loyalties that waver between two opinions.

On the showdown at Mt. Carmel between God and the false prophets of Baal, Elijah stood before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him” (1 Kings 18:21).

Same people, different time and place. When Joshua gave his farewell address at Shechem, he said to the people, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).  

Double-minded people try to serve two masters. They flip flop how they think about things based on their feelings, what they’re doing, and who they’re with at the time.  They’re like waves of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind (James 1:6).  

It’s hypocrisy of the heart to waver in our thought life. Choose where you will set your mind.  Will it be in accordance with the Spirit and what the Spirit desires or on the sinful nature and what it desires? (Romans 8:5)

Are we going to be single-minded and steadfast in thinking on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy? (Philippians 4:8) Or are we going to keep running back to thoughts that are hostile to God? (Romans 8:7)

In Psalm 119:113 we read, I hate double-minded men, but I love your law. The more we love God’s Word and saturate our minds with its truth, the more we’ll be aware of double-minded thinking that does not submit to God’s law.

Accept His invitation, double-minded women. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Purify your hearts and thoughts! (James 4:8). Be single-minded and fix your thoughts on Christ alone (Hebrews 3:1).

Think on it: Is there a showdown going on in your mind? Stop shifting like a wave, and stand firm on His Word!

Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. It’s ok to stare.

Bob Goff

Weekly Devo - "Surrounded" - 2/18/2013

From Lenae, GEMS Training Manger 

Surrounded

              As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.

Psalm 125:2

I can’t wrap my mind around it. Those were the words of a middle-aged man being interviewed this morning on television after a news-breaking tragedy.

I can’t wrap my mind around it. Is there a similar wrestling in your thought life today? This makes no sense. I don’t get it. I can’t get my head around it! Around and around we go: Why, LORD? Why this? Why now?

No matter how many times futile thoughts are looped, they can’t be wrapped and tied with a neat and tidy bow. There are some things that we simply will not understand this side of heaven. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

When we can’t wrap our mind around our hurt, we need to trust in the One who encircles and surrounds us. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore (Psalm 125:2).

He goes before you. The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

He walks alongside of you. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4).

He comes behind you. The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard (Isaiah 58:8b).

He watches over you. The LORD watches over you–the LORD is your shade at your right hand (Psalm 121:5).

His mighty arms are underneath you. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27).

You’re surrounded! You hem me in–behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me (Psalm 139:5).

Think on it: What are you trying to wrap your mind around today? Surrender it to the One who surrounds you both now and forevermore.   

The things we think about, focus on, and surround ourselves with will shape who we become.

Author Unknown