Sunday Scriptures - Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

Her children arise up and call her Blessed.

Proverbs  31:28

For lots more Mother's Day quotes, click HERE.

Sunday Scripture - Trust in Him

I was recently tagged in a Facebook post (by my daughter) to share my favorite bible verse.  The idea is once you are tagged, you must do it.  Then you nominate others to do the same task.  While I have several favorite bible verses, I don't really have one life verse.  However, I do have a bible word that has guided me throughout many stages and events in my life.  The word is:  TRUST.

Why trust?

Trust helps take the worry out of life. Trust that God will provide and take care of you and your loved ones.

Trust helps explain events that have no explanation.  Through some pretty rough times, I trust that one day God's purpose will be clear and amazing...even if it seems unbearable here on earth.  God always has a plan.  Trust His plan not your own. (Lord knows I have had some pretty messed up plans.)

Trust that He died for our sins.  This doesn't give us an excuse to sin; however, it does mean that Jesus is always waiting for us with open arms no matter how broken we think we are.  

Trust gives you HOPE.

Trust occurs 188 times (depending on which version and from which source you obtain your data) in the bible.  Clearly, God was sending the message that trust is important, actually necessary in our lives.  

2 Samuel 7:28

O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.

Psalm 9:10

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 13:5

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.

Psalm 56:3

When I am afraid, I will trust in you.

Psalm 62:8

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

Psalm 84:12

O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

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 paths straight.

John 14:1

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

2 Samuel 22:31 

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

I think Leah (In Genesis 29-30) learned to trust God with all her heart. Here is a summary:

Laban had two daughters; the older daughter was named Leah, and the younger daughter was named Rachel. Rachel had the body of a goddess and the face of a super-model. Leah is simply described as having “weak” eyes. (The word “weak” is often translated as “tender” in the Old Testament. It does not denote a defect, but instead, describes the quality of gentleness.) Jacob immediately fell head over heels in love with Rachel. He told Laban that he would work seven years for Laban and as payment, he would get to marry Rachel. Both men shook hands on the deal.

At the end of the seven years, Laban swindled Jacob by switching Leah for Rachel towards the end of the marriage ceremony. Jacob thought he was spending the night with Rachel, but Laban had cunningly substituted Leah in her place. It is important to realize that women during this time frame were treated as property. Since marriages were arranged, the wishes of a daughter were not taken into consideration. Since both Leah and Rachel were under Laban's authority, they had to do what they were told. I don't think either daughter wanted to go along with the deception, but they were given no choice. They were not allowed to say “no.”

Jacob of course was furious about the deception. The swindler had been swindled. He did not want Leah, he wanted Rachel. Jacob and Laban worked out another deal for another seven years of service. When the seven-day marriage ritual with Leah was complete, Jacob immediately married Rachel.

We don't really know Leah's thoughts throughout this whole ordeal. However, I think we would be safe to assume Leah wasn't happy. However, I believe Leah slowly learned to look less to Jacob and more to God for happiness.  Leah learned to put her focus on God. God eventually turned Jacob's heart to Leah and he loved her more than he had ever loved Rachel. While Leah was waiting all those years for God to turn Jacob's heart to her, she never gave up hope. During all those years that she was unloved, God continued to bless Leah. During all those years that Leah was unloved by her husband, God never stopped loving her.

Too many times in our lives, we look to others for happiness.  We let others determine our happiness....Or we seek to have others make our happiness...or blame them when we aren't happy.  We need the trust in Jesus for our happiness. Only then (when we are truly happy in a trusting relationship with Jesus) can we have truly happy relationships with others.

Relentless by Hillsong!

Because He Lives!

God sent His Son
They called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my Saviour lives

Because He lives I can face tomorrow
Because He lives all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives

And then one day
I'll cross that river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then as death gives way to vict'ry
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know he lives

Because He lives I can face tomorrow
Because He lives all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives

Sunday Scripture - God is NOT dead!

God is not dead!

He is Risen! Hallelujah!

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Sunday Scripture - Why did Jesus wash the disciples' feet?

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

John 13:1-17

New International Version (NIV)

13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

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Question: "What was the significance of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples?"

Answer:Jesus washing the feet of the disciples (John 13:1-17) occurred in theupper room, just prior to the Last Supper and has significance in three ways. For Jesus, it was the display of His humility and His servanthood. For the disciples, the washing of their feet was in direct contrast to their heart attitudes at that time. For us, washing feet is symbolic of our role in the body of Christ...

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-washing-feet.html#ixzz2ypQYxOno

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Humor that drives home the POINT!

For the children:











In less than 2 minutes, what does it all mean?

Oh Happy Day, When Jesus Washed My Sins Away!

The greatest day in history, death is beaten

You have rescued me

Sing it out, Jesus is alive



The empty cross, the empty grave

Life eternal, You have won the day

Shout it all, Jesus is alive

He´s alive





Oh happy day, happy day

You washed my sin away

Oh happy day, happy day

I'll never be the same

Forever I am changed





When I stand, in that place

Free at last, meeting face to face

I am Yours, Jesus You are mine

Endless joy, perfect peace



Earthly pain finally will cease

Celebrate Jesus is alive

He's alive





Oh what a glorious day 

What a glorious way 

That You have saved me

Oh what a glorious day

What a glorious name

Scripture Sunday - How does Zaccaeus, the tax collector, affect your life today?

Sometimes when we read scripture, we wonder how it affects our lives today.  I am so thankful and blessed to have an amazing church to help connect biblical times with my life today.  So, how does Zacchaeus, the tax collector, affect your life today?

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Luke 19

New International Version (NIV)

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

So what does this mean?  How does it affect you TODAY?

Jesus didn't wait for Zacchaeus to be free from sin before He went to Zacchaeus' home.  Jesus knew Zacchaeus was a sinner; yet, He invited himself to his home!  What a relief!!  We don't have to be free from sin to seek Jesus.  We don't have to be completely "clean" for Jesus to want to meet with each one of us.    Jesus wants a relationship with you right now.  What are you waiting for?

These teachings were shared today at Orchard Hill Church.  

Religious Education Activities - 2 Minute Brain Break

This is a wonderful video for your Christian classroom!

Click the picture below to watch this video:

David Garibaldi 

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