Category: Faith

Posted in Scripture Writing Challenge

Rejoice Always Scripture Writing Challenge: Philippians

Posted on by jilatia

Hey everyone!!

It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to WRITE. I could say that life has been busy and that would be VERY true but there’s always more to a story… As we go through this challenge, you’ll hear more of that story but for now….

Let’s jump in…

I thought it would be appropriate to start our scripture writing challenge in the book of Philippians. At such a time where things are very uncertain, people are sick, experiencing loss in various ways and JOY is waning; Philippians would be a great book to start our challenge.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

  • Who wrote the book of Philippians? Paul wrote the book of Philippians. It was a letter.
  • Who were the recipients? The recipients of this letter were the believers in Philippi. The Philippian church was founded by Paul on his second missionary journey.
  • When and where was Philippians written? Paul wrote this letter while he was imprisoned in Rome. It was most likely written during his first imprisonment around AD 60-62.

Why is Philippians about and why could it be relevant to us today ?

Philippians is considered to be the book of joy. In fact the words “rejoice” and “joy” are found more times in this letter than in any of Paul’s other letters. By the end of this challenge, we would have learned as Paul did that “Jesus is our joy and this joy is grained more and more into our lives as our minds are renewed into His image day by day.” Paul also puts emphasis on unity and Christ. At a time where we are told to Social distance ourselves from each other and are prone to give into the worries of what life has to offer us, we too like the believers in Philippi, need to be reminded that “unity is essential for the church and for the progress of the gospel” and that Jesus is our Lord and Savior.

The Scripture Writing Plan

How will the Scripture writing plan work?

Every Sunday a reminder post will be posted with the weeks reading plan. On Monday- Friday we will write our the given day’s passage using the W.O.R.D bible study method and on Saturday we interact with each other about what we learned throughout the week.

The W.O.R.D Bible Study Method

  • Write. Write out the passage.
  • Observe. Take note of the passage
  • Relevant. How is the passage applicable to you?
  • Declare. Pray the scripture.

Will you join me on this challenge?

Posted in Devotionals, Faith

Our firm foundation

Posted on by jilatia

If I ever want to know the character of God…. I should STUDY His WORD


-Tristin Matthews

Psalms 19 focuses on the perfect revelation of the Lord. In it we see the general revelation of himself- God revealed through creation and the special revelation Of Himself- God reveal through His Word. From this passage one can perceive the glory of the Lord
and the importance of Scripture.

The Glory of the Lord

 The heavens declare the glory of  God, and the expanse proclaims  the work of his hands. Day after  day they pour out speech; night  after night they communicate  knowledge. There is no speech;  there are no words; their voice is  not heard. Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their  words to the ends of the world.

Psalm 19:1-4

God’s majesty is revealed in the beauty of his creation for you and I to see. Creation whispers His name and you and I should pause to worship God the creator.

The Importance of  Scripture

The instruction of the Lord is perfect,
renewing one’s life;
the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy,
making the inexperienced wise.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
making the heart glad;
the command of the Lord is radiant,
making the eyes light up.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are reliable
and altogether righteous.
They are more desirable than gold—
than an abundance of pure gold;
and sweeter than honey
dripping from a honeycomb.
In addition, your servant is warned by them,
and in keeping them there is an abundant reward.

Psalm 19:7-11

If I ever desire to know the character of God I should study his Word. David the writer of this passage takes the time to outline the characteristics of God’s word and the benefits we gain from following His word. God’s word instructs us. It is perfect, trustworthy, right reliable and righteous. It illuminates and warns us. From God’s word we gain renewed strength, wisdom, joy, and understanding. We learn just how valuable the word of God is and how there is an abundance of reward in keeping His Word.

Our Response

Who perceives his  unintentional sins? Cleanse me  from my hidden faults. Moreover, keep your servant from willful  sins; do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed  from blatant rebellion. May the  words of my mouth and the  meditation of my heart be  acceptable to you, LORD my rock  and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:12-14

We should be like David , humbled. The weightiness of scripture should humble us and help us to see our need for the Redeemer Jesus Christ.

In light of scripture, do we see our need for Christ and are we turning to him in light of scripture?

Posted in Devotionals, Faith

The Ever Present God

Posted on by jilatia

It’s amazing to see that as a grown woman, I still find myself battling the lies that Satan spews at me that says “You’re not worthy of love. You’re not beautiful! You’re the lowest of low. You’re not valuable.” In the lies that rang in my head daily lies the insecurities I allow to ring true in my heart over and over again. It’s also amazing to see how God almighty, gives me just what I need from His word to combat the lies being spewed. Today I find truth to combat the lies that Satan spews at me as I park it in Psalm 139. As I read this passage I plugged my name in so that it can be personal for me and I pray Lord give me the faith to hear your word and obey it.

What I gain from God’s word is far more VALUABLE than any lie that Satan tries to make me believe. Here is what the Lord reminds me as I battle my own thoughts. He says, ” Tristin I have searched and I know you. I know when you sit down and when you stand up. I understand your thoughts from afar and observe your travels and when you rest. Tristin I know all your ways and before you even speak I know all about what you’re about to say. Tristin I surround. I am your fortress and I have placed my Hand on you. ” He reminds me that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. He tells me that when I was formless He saw me and all my days were written in His book and planned before a single one of them began.

I like David, can’t even began to understand God’s knowledge but I praise Him. I praise Him for his sovereignty. I praise Him because his thoughts about me are so VALUABLE. I praise Him because He is my protector. I also echo what David says when he says “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.”

To every lie Satan spews there’s God’s word to combat it! That’s where we find our tactics to fight and I was reminded of that today! Good day people!!!!

Posted in Faith, Sermon Series

The King and His bride Sermon Series

Posted on by jilatia

Along with the scripture writing challenge, I with the permission from my pastor will be sharing the sermon audio and the devotional resources offered at our church  as an encouragement to shape our perspective during this Christmas season. As I listened to this sermon I asked myself the following questions:

1. How do I view Christ in my life?

2. Is Jesus worth my total surrender?

I hope you enjoy this sermon as much as I have. Just click the link below  to listen.

The King and His Bride Sermon Series Week 1

For the Advent Devotional- http://www.perryhallchurch.com/content.cfm?id=213&download_id=114

Posted in Faith, Scripture Writing Challenge

December Scripture Writing Challenge- Jesus Messiah

Posted on by jilatia

Good Morning everyone!!!!! This was supposed to be posted a couple of days ago, but the weekend got away from me. We’ve finished up our 90 day tour through scripture and now we’re preparing for the Christmas season. Christmas is my favorite time of year, not because I get to spend a lot time with family or show love to my family through gift giving, but because I get to reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ. I get to reflect on what that means for me and what that means for everyone. So to prepare for Christmas we have some passages that we are going to go through. The Scripture writing challenge is simple for 5 minutes a day, You read the bible passage, write it out and reflect on it throughout the day. So today we’re looking at December 3rd. Let’s read, write and Reflect!!!! Have a great day everyone!!

December 1- Galatians 4:4-5

December 2- Isaiah 7:14

December 3- Malachi 4:5

December 4- Luke 1:45-49

December 5- Malachi 4:6

December 6- Genesis 15

December 7- Genesis 22:18

December 8- Jeremiah 23:5

December 9- Micah 5:2

December 10- Judges 13:22

December 11- Isaiah 25:9

December 12- Isaiah 60:6

December 13- Hosea 11:1

December 14- Isaiah 49:7

December 15- Psalms 119:99-100

December 16- Isaiah 40:3

December 17- Isaiah 25:5

December 18- Isaiah 91:1

December 19- Isaiah 6:5

December 20- Isaiah 40:11

December 21 – Psalms 34:11

December 22- Matt 20:17-19

December 23- Isaiah 53:8-10

December 24- Zechariah 12:10

December 25- Psalms 16:10

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Devotionals, Faith

November Reading Plan

Posted on by jilatia

Good evening everyone, so we’re in the final stretch of the 90 day tour through the bible.  for the last 30 days we’ve focused on the rebellion of man, God’s redemption and restoration of his people. Starting on November 1st, we will continue to see how God restores us, how we should serve him and the hope we have for eternity. As we done in the past, we will be using the SOAP method as we explore God’s Word.

What is the SOAP method?

Scripture- what passage are you reading?

Observation- In reading the passage, what do you see?

Application- how does what you’ve read apply to you?

Pray- is there anything you need to confess to the Lord or any gratitude to show to him?

As always happy reading I look forward to hearing about how the Lord will transform your heart in the next 30 days!

Restoration

Day 62- 1 John 3
Day 63- Psalm 5
Day 64- Psalm 32
Day 65- Jeremiah 31
Day 66- John 9
Day 67- Psalm 51

Discipleship, Service 

Day 68- Numbers 5-6
Day 69- Joshua 24
Day 70- Deuteronomy 10-11
Day 71- 1 Samuel 12
Day 72- Matthew 6
Day 73- Luke 9
Day 74- John 13
Day 75- Acts 2
Day 76- Acts 8
Day 77- Romans 14-15
Day 78- 1 Corinthians 12-13
Day 79- Philippians 1-2
Day 80- Revelations 2-3

The Second Coming, Eternity

Day 81- Revelation 19-20,22
Day 82- Romans 8
Day 83- Matthew 24- 25
Day 84- Daniel 7-12
Day 85- Isaiah 63-66
Day 86- 2 Thessalonians 2
Day 87- Romans 5-6
Day 88- John 5-6
Day 89- 1 John 5
Day 90- Ecclesiates

I f you should miss a day, keep going and come back to the day you missed after the tour is over.