"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

We gotta remember who we are talking to, we can't pray flippantly. And if we say "Thy will be done" what attitude do we have? In faith or in unbelief?

"20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”" Mark 9:20-22

Jesus is not subtle. He is strong, direct. 

We have to believe our prayers are worthwhile.

Where does our faith start?

"33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Matthew 6:33

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

As his children, God wants to hear us. He wants us to come to him, to talk with him.

Expectation -- actively waiting -- 


"18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." Ephesians 6:18

Actively doing something in the process. If you pray for a job, you believe and then you go look for one actively. We only want the best for our children. God only wants to the best for his children. 

"but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

Pray continually: "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?'" Luke 18:1-8

Pray and don't give up!

"And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. 43 “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.“There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” 44 The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” 45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel." 1 Kings 18:41-45

Pray in faith, expectation and PRAISE!

"23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose." Acts 16:23-26

The prisoners were listening and EVERYONE's chains came loose -- what we do matters to people we don't even know!

Seek His plans, call on Him.

"11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

"17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." James 5:17-18

"23 “Truly[a] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:23-24

"17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

Prayers are powerful and always worthwhile!​

11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Luke 17:11-19

Be like the one, the foreigner; don't be like the 9.

"Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
  Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—" Psalm 103:1-2

"rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Colossians 2:7

The more we know the more we should be grateful. The world needs to see joyful Christians.

There was a gratitude study done by Berkeley in 2017. They took three groups of students who were having issues with mental health (Anxiety, depression, etc). One group was the control group -- they didn't do anything different. The second group got together weekly to discuss their problems. The third group was instructed to write a letter each week, a letter of gratitude to someone. The results of the study were thus:

1. Expressing gratitude unshackles you from negative emotions.
2. Even if the letter wasn't sent the act of writing the gratitude letter was enough to cause positive change.
3. Gratitude benefits takes time -- but it gets better and better. 
4. Gratitude has long-lasting effects on the brain an dhow it works. It changes our physical brains.

Practice gratitude regularly. When we do this we will see a real difference in our entire lives. 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

 "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2

Live the life of gratefulness. Daily! Must be deliberate or it won't happen.

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:15-17

Change yourself, change your world. In our prayer and despair, we are grateful. 

"Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:13-18

Start from the fact that we are blessed. 

​"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church-- 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'" Ephesians 5:25-31

In the beginning God began humanity with family.

"So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
                                                                                                                                                  Genesis 1:27-28

The family is the first institution God ever put together.

"23 The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones
    and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
    for she was taken out of man.”
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." Genesis 2:23-24

Families have a lot of important roles to play.

Family:

"25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body." Ephesians 5:25-30

We are members of Jesus's Body.

Children:

"Start children off on the way they should go,
    and even when they are old they will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

'Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward from him.' Psalm 127:3

The Inseparable Family -- God's plan:

6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’[a] 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,[b] 8 and the two will become one flesh.’[c] So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10:6-9

The Family of God: All Believers:

Jesus is our Savior and Brother.

49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:49-50

From the very beginning God wanted us back.

"12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God."
                                                                                                                                                          John 1:12-13

God laid out the natural family to help us understand the spiritual family.

Live as a family:

Spend time together; give each other the benefit of the doubt.

"14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name." Ephesians 3:14-15

Children of God: 
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,[a] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure."
                                                                                                                                                        1 John 3:1-3
Treat Each other like family:


"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10

"Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity." 1 Timothy 5:1-2

We are the Family, the Household of God:

 "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6:10

"And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands." Deuteronomy 26:18

The world likes to tell you you aren't good enough, but we don't get our value from the world. We get it from God. God says we are because He loves us. 

Plenty of people felt unworthy in the BIble:

Moses:
"12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you[a] will worship God on this mountain.”13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘ What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”" Exodus 3:12-13

Jeremiah:
6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord." Jeremiah 1:6-8

It's easy to look from the world's point of view -- we always hear the "not good enough" message.

Our worth is not set by the world but by God

"And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands." Deuteronomy 26:18

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

You are Chosen by God!

"For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." Deuteronomy 7:6

God loved us first. Don't take this light. You are chosen. You are chosen.

"4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[a] predestined us for adoption to sonship[b] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." Ephesians 1:4-6

Before the beginning of time He knew I was going to mess up and sin and do wrong things and there would be no way I could be with Him. That wasn't acceptable to God!

Nothing can separate us from God.

"37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39

Nothing and no one conquers God! God is The Conqueror of all!

It's hard to accept love sometimes because we think we don't deserve it. Love isn't about deserving love. That is called work/employment. Love is about love.

Know the Source

"17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people," Ephesians 1:17-18

"31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

Children of God

Every person is a creation of God and every person is loved by God. But we aren't children of God until we believe in Jesus.

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,[a] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:1-2

 "12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." John 1:12-13

Our Father

"32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32

"15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father.”" Romans 8:15

Live as Children of God
Stop doubting yourself. Go to God for strength. Live in the environment of heaven within.

"16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Romans 8:16-17

The world doesn't know God. The world can't understand God.

Live like a child.

"Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God." Matthew 5:9

The world needs peacemakers. The world needs us to be peacemakers. The entire world is yelling and no one is listening. God doesn't want this. Be a peacemaker.

Family resemblance. We should look like Jesus.

"1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2

Respond to people as Jesus did/does.

"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked." Luke 6:35

We are not meant to be misers -- be lavish in your love toward others.

The prayer and desire of Jesus for you and me:
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one-- 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." John 17:20-23

The world needs to see Jesus through His people. The world needs the light of Jesus in us.

They survive because their roots intertwine -- the trees support each other. 

“Every faculty you have, your power of thinking or of moving your limbs from moment to moment, is given you by God. If you devoted every moment of your whole life exclusively to His service you could not give Him anything that was not in a sense his own already ... It is like a small child going to its father and saying, 'Daddy, give me sixpence to buy you a birthday present.' It is all very nice and proper, but only an idiot would think that the father is sixpence to the good on the transaction.”
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Other than sin, is there anything in your life that didn't come from God?

Stewardship -- careful management of something entrusted to your care. 

God has called us to be stewards of everything in our lives -- all of creation and every gift He gives us. Even our children belong to God.

"This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed." 1 Corinthians 4:1

EVERYTHING!

"The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
    the world, and all who live in it;" Psalm 24:1

"The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
    you founded the world and all that is in it." Psalm 89:11

 "For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" 1 Corinthians 4:7

No such thing as a "self-made" person. God has given us all things. We are made by God. Everything, our careers, our success, our family, relationships, stuff, money, everything is from God.

We were called to be stewards from the Beginning of Creation:

​"God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:28

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." Genesis 2:15

Sin is a lack of stewardship -- a neglect, a not doing something we are supposed to do (or not do). We are called to care for all of creation.

Who Do You Work for?

God gave us our jobs for a purpose. Yes, those you work to earn money -- those are gifts from God for His purposes.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24

Work for Jesus. Don't do it for people praise. If you have a job that is a blessing. If you don't like your job do it for Jesus. If you do like your job do it for Jesus. If you have a contrary boss, work there for Jesus. Do it all for Jesus. Our labor is a blessing.

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans." Proverbs 16:3

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33

If we seek God first, and work for God God will bless our efforts.

Higher Standards for Christians
We understand what we have received.

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Even your body belongs to God. Your body has a purpose. It was bought with a price. Realize it is God's property and treat it as such. Do not abuse it. Do not bad mouth it. That body God loves and created for His purposes.

"This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."
1 Corinthians 4:1-2

In the end God wants to find us faithful. We need Him to find us faithful.

We have much, therefore . . . 

“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:47-48

If you know better than do better. We will be held responsible for what we have been given and what we know.

What are we stewards of?

 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Matthew 10:37-38

Our Time, our Talents, our Treasures:
Time:
We are not promised time. You cannot add time to your life. Once a day is gone you will never get it back. We must take the opportunities God gives us or we may never get another chance. Our days are numbered.

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15-16

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Philippians 4:8

Where does your mind wander to when it isn't preoccupied? It should go to the things noted above in Phil 4:8.

Talents:
Whatever skills or talents we have we have for God's purposes. They are given out to individuals.

"I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that." 1 Corinthians 7:7

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:10-11

Everything we do should glorify God.

Treasures:

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

God loves cheerful givers! God always gives back more than we ever give. It all belongs to Him. And yes treasures include money, home family, relationships, children....everything! You have $400. You give God $40 cheerfully. But what if God asks for the entire $400? It all belongs to HIm. We are to give however we are led cheerfully.

The widow who put in 2 coins. She gave it all without calling attention to herself. She gave it all. Give willingly. This pleases God.

"Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me." 1 Coriinthians 4:2-4

Am I doing everything I can? 
Am I giving everything I can give?
Am I doing the best I can? 
It doesn't matter what people think or even what we ourselves think. God will be the one who judges us. His judgment is the one that counts.

So how do we apply this? 
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Luke 12:35-40

Always be ready for Jesus's return. No matter what. This applies to absolutely everyone.

​"Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?" Luke 12:41-42

We each want to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant." 

Where is your heart, your mind, your money, your time, your job?

Have you ever wondered why? Why God gives us so many colors? Five senses to experience life? Have you ever wondered why God has given us so much beauty? 

​"Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
    in the heavens." Psalm 8:1

David uses two words for Lord in this verse: The first is Yahweh which means God, Creator God, the All-Supreme One. The second word for Lord is Adonai which means The Lord our Lord, the One We are meant to serve, to submit to.

God is involved in all of our lives. God is always God and continues to work in our lives whether we acknoledge Him or not.  

"I can take my telescope and look millions of miles into space; but I can go away to my room and in prayer get nearer to God and heaven than I can when assisted by all the telescopes of earth." Sir Isaac Newton

The Wonder of God's Creation

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11

"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Romans 1:20

Compare a bird skeleton to a human skeleton. You will see continuity between creatures because God is consistent in His creation, in His creating. People can see God is Creator when they look at creation if they are open to God.

“Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, 
    those who are nothing but potsherds
    among the potsherds on the ground.
Does the clay say to the potter,
    ‘What are you making?’
Does your work say,
    ‘The potter has no hands’? Isaiah 45:9

Potsherds are broken pieces of pottery -- useless. That is all we are without Jesus Christ.

Through Children and Babies

"Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
    to silence the foe and the avenger." Psalm 8:2

Who can deny a child comes from God? There is power in babies and children -- them just existing and being themselves. We can learn from them. Jesus tells us to be childlike in perspective -- Everything is wonderful to a child -- we need to the wonder. A childlike perspective is vital for us to live, really live.

"For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well." Psalm 139:13-14

God knit me together with His fingers.

"When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?" Psalm 8:3-4

The same fingers that created the heavens and the moon and the stars!!

There is no end to the heavens. God takes care of the big things and the little things. All life on earth depends on the Sun. God gave us each a purpose. He calls individuals.

Creation speaks:

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge." Psalm 19:1-2

If we recognize the Creation we will draw near to the Creator. The more we listen to God, the closer we will get to Him. 

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains--
    where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2

"You have made them[a] a little lower than the angels[b]
    and crowned them[c] with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
    you put everything under their[d] feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
    and the animals of the wild,
8 the birds in the sky,
    and the fish in the sea,
    all that swim the paths of the seas." Psalm 8:5-8

Angels are powerful, but they don't get to experience God's forgiveness, salvation, mercy, grace.

God allowed Adam to name the animals. 

If the child names the puppy, he claims the puppy. 

God has called us to be stewards of absolutely everything. 

Then along came humans and sin...

We brought sin into the world.

"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—" Romans 5:12

The world is decaying and dying because of our sin. But God didn't fire us. He still calls us to be stewards of the creation.

"For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed." Romans 8:19

Everything is waiting for Jesus to return!!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

God says He is going to save us from ourselves. Our Creator came back for us. He didn't desert us. Ever.

The New Creation -- Our Creator Lives!

"He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." James 1:18

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Share it. We are Reconcilers.

You are loved by Your Creator
It's our job to show people what love is and how much they are loved by God.

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." 1 John 3:1

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him." 1 John 4:9

God gave us back what we destroyed. 

"Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!" Psalm 8:9

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10 

What does it mean to be a child of God?

"13 For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well." Psalm 139:13-14

Created in our completeness.

Genesis 2:7
 "Then the Lord God formed a man[c] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." Genesis 2:7

"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day." Genesis 1:31

 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;" John 10:10a

Jesus did not come to show us how God would live on Earth if He were a man, but to show us how we should live on Earth when we are right with God.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

God offers us Abundant Life!
Not just enough – more than enough!
We just have to accept it. We need to know what God allows in our lives and how God answers our prayers and blesses us -- everything is for our best.

Satan came to kill and destroy…
- Destroy our self worth
-Destroy joy through fear
-Destroy our security through insecurity
-Destroy the fullness of life through thoughts of emptiness
-Destroy meaning of life through thoughts of meaningless
-Destroy our future through regrets

The degree that we see ourselves through God’s eyes is the degree that we are able to relate to others through the eyes of God. 

Get back to the Abundant life of a child of God
***Understand the promises of God

"You have granted him his heart’s desire
    and have not withheld the request of his lips" Psalm 21:2

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him." Jeremiah 17:7

The Eyes of God:

World sees God as a punisher
God as El Shaddai – God All Powerful

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:19

Start Living Through The Eyes of God:
"God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God"
2 Corinthians 5:21

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

These verses tell us how God sees us!

Love Yourself as The Father Sees You:
God’s affirming love…
  -You are not who you are when you are weak
  -You are not who you are when you fail
  -You are not who you are when you sin
You are who you are through the eyes of God!
  Not defined by your past but by your future
  Not defined by your circumstances  but by your calling
  Not defined by your failures but by your future

Live the Fearless Life that God intended for You:
"Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[a] Father.” Galatians 4:6

"The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father." Romans 8:15

The Origins of Sunday School:

Sunday School began in England in the 1780s. According to ChristianityToday.com, "It is important to realize that Sunday schools were originally literally schools: they were places were poor children could learn to read. The Sunday school movement began in Britain in the 1780s. The Industrial Revolution had resulted in many children spending all week long working in factories. Christian philanthropists wanted to free these children from a life of illiteracy. Well into the 19th century, working hours were long. The first modest legislative restrictions came in 1802. This resulted in limiting the number of hours a child could work per day to 12! This limit was not lowered again until 1844. Moreover, Saturday was part of the regular work week. Sunday, therefore, was the only available time for these children to gain some education.
      "The English Anglican evangelical Robert Raikes (1725-1811) was the key promoter of the movement. It soon spread to America as well. Denominations and non-denominational organizations caught the vision and energetically began to create Sunday schools."

Sunday School began in the USA in the 1800s. A man named Edward Kimball led D.L. Moody to the Lord through Sunday School. Kimball took Moody under his wing (Moody was a young boy).

God calls us to educate ourselves in His Word and in our faith outside of preaching.

4 “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as [b]frontals [c]on your forehead. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9

It takes the loss of just one generation to  lose it all!

"All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel." Judges 2:10-11

If we let up on educating ourselves, our children, our church family, we will see our churches die. We will see people walk away.

"18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 [a]Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you [b]always, even to the end of the age.”" Matthew 28:18-19

This is a responsibility Jesus has given all of His followers. 

We need to be life-long learners of the Word and the life of Faith:

"9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.
10 With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
11 Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O Lord;
Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
[a]As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts
And [b]regard Your ways.
16 I shall [c]delight in Your statutes;
I shall not forget Your word." Psalm 119:9-16

Sunday School can give us a fundamental understanding of the basics of the faith:
•Life, death and resurrection of Jesus
•Holy Trinity
•Inerrant Word of God
•The purpose of church
•Service
•Love, humility, grace, kindness,  all virtues
•Relevancy of the bible in today’s world

What is going on in Sunday School right now across the nation?

“Sunday Schools simply do not provide the quality of teaching and experience that people demand today in exchange for their time."
                                            George Barna

People just don't think Sunday School is worth their time.

Purpose of Sunday School:
•Augment what is done in the home

•Discipleship

•Peer lead study and discussion

•Relationships

•Church growth and health

•Leadership development

What do we want from Sunday School?

This is a question for everyone to answer.....