Lesson 3: CONFIDENCE

This Sunday is the third lesson in the series about Character. The topic for September 26 is Confidence. Please read and think about the following scripture in preparation for our discussion.

 

I look forward to seeing you Saturday and Sunday.

 

Mike

 

Psalm 139:1-14

  ¹ O LORD, you have searched me
       and you know me.

    ² You know when I sit and when I rise;
       you perceive my thoughts from afar.
    ³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
       you are familiar with all my ways.
    ⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
       you know it completely, O LORD.
    ⁵ You hem me in—behind and before;
       you have laid your hand upon me.
    ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
       too lofty for me to attain.
    ⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
       Where can I flee from your presence?
    ⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
       if I make my bed in the depths, ^[a] you are there.
    ⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
       if I settle on the far side of the sea,
    ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
       your right hand will hold me fast.
    ¹¹ If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
       and the light become night around me,"
    ¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
       the night will shine like the day,
       for darkness is as light to you.
    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.

September 19 - Prayer Requests

1.  Erika - Pray for her mom who has been dealing with medical problems for several years now.  She has has been suffering from an attach with these problems lately.  Also, pray for Erika's grandmother whose memory is slipping.  Pray that Erika's Mom will be able to handle all that is on her plate (dealing with her illness and her mothers).

2.  Jessica - Pray for her grandmother - she was recently diagnosed with a serious disease.  Pray for her to know how to deal with this news.  Also, pray for Jessica and the rest of her family as they are planning a wedding renewal ceremony for her grandmother and grandfather.  Pray that everything will get worked out and that the grandparents will be in good health to participate in the celebration.
                 - Also, pray for wisdom for Tyler and Jessica as they prayerful decide whether or not they will have another child.

3.  Debra & Mike - Pray for both of their mothers - both are fighting illnesses.

4.  Marie - Praise that she is having several job interviews.  Pray for those to go well and for a positive outcome to be seen in the near future.

5.  Corey & Brittany - Pray for wisdom as Brittany goes through interviews to decide where she will go to school, and help them have a peace in the decision making process.

6.  Emily & Joe - Pray for them as they schedule their upcoming move.  Pray that the move goes as smoothly as possible on all fronts including their 2 year old son handling it well, getting themselves and their possessions to their new town, and that they are able to find a house.

7.  Janet & Lane - Pray for the new baby, Elijah, and for the rest of the family as they go through this adjustment period.

8.  Will & Lisseth - Pray for their son Daniel who has been sick a lot lately.

Also, remember our Sunday School social this Saturday evening (25th) at the Maxey's.  We will start at 5 PM.  The UGA/Miss St  kickoff is 7 PM.  You are invited to stay as long as you can. 

Email Mike or Debra if you have any questions.  Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Prayer Requests

Sorry I didn't get these posted earlier this week!  Here are the prayer requests.

1) Traveling safety for Mike and Debra.  They are taking two cars so watch over both of them as they drive.
2) Janet and Lane's baby due any day.

3) Abbi and Joel as they are traveling back home.

4) Joe and Emiley as they are waiting to find out where they will be stationed.

5) Mare as she continues to search for a job to find one soon and not get discouraged.

6) Cami's mother, Ann Queen, who has lung cancer.

7) For our entire class.

We will be starting a new series next week.

August 29th - Prayer Requests

1.  Matt & Amberly - Amberly's grandfather died last week.  Pray for the family as they deal with this loss.

2.  Bill & Nancy - Their daughter Katy was in a car wreck.  Thankfully, she is fine, but she is going to have the doctor check out her ACL.  Pray that everything is ok with her ACL.  Also, be praying for her to find a car to replace the one she lost in the accident.

3.  Lane & Janet - Janet is due on September 5th.  Pray for a smooth next few days and that the delivery goes smoothly.

4.  Joe & Emily - Pray for them to have a peace about decisions they are trying to make. 

"Why Worry?"

Matthew 6:25-34    Do Not Worry

    ²⁵"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
    ²⁸"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

This is a subject that we all struggle with.  Here are some of the topics we will spend time discussing in class.
     1.  In the scripture passage Jesus gave specific reasons why we can live without worry dominating our lives.  Why does Jesus say we can live a worry free life?
     2.  Have  you experienced times when your faith in God reduced or removed worry in your lives?
     3.  How have you seen God meet your needs over the past year? What is a serious need you have in your life right now? Is it a struggle to trust God to meet that need?

  I look forward to us analyzing the scripture and discussing its application in our lives.  Let's make sure we take time to pray for each other this week.

Mike