Copacetic

... charming, delightful & peachy keen

  • 21st May
    2011
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  • 19th May
    2011
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  • 19th May
    2011
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  • 13th April
    2011
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  • 13th March
    2011
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Lenten Scriptures

Lent logo

For those that are hoping to spend this Lenten season deep in God’s Word, each week i’ll be posting some scripture passages to guide us through a series of Biblical themes leading up to Christ’s death & resurrection. My sweet hubby Jeff found these Lenten resources for our daily devotional time. It’s been such a blessing to us this 1st week & we pray they’ll be a blessing to y’all as well.

March 13-1st Sunday in Lent
Theme: God’s hand delivers us
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
Romans 10:8-13
Luke 4:1-13

March 20-2nd Sunday in Lent
Theme: God gathers us together in safe shelter
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 9:28-36 & 13:31-35

March 27-3rd Sunday in Lent
Theme: God pours out life-giving drink
Isaiah 55:1-9
Psalm 63:1-8
2 Corinthians 10:1-13
Luke 13:1-9

April 3-4th Sunday in Lent
Theme: God reaches out with open arms
Joshua 5:9-12
Psalm 32
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

April 10-5th Sunday in Lent
Theme: God makes a way through mighty waters
Isaiah 43:16-21
Psalm 126
Philippians 3:4-14
John 12:1-8

April 17-Palm Sunday
Theme: God’s steadfast love endures forever
Luke 19:28-40 & 22:14-23:56
John 12:12-16
Psalm 31:9-16 & 118:1-2, 19-29
Isaiah 50:4-9
Philippians 2:5-11

April 24-Easter Sunday
Theme: Jesus is not here, but has risen
Acts 10:34-43
Isaiah 65:17-25
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1 Corinthians 15:19-26
John 20:1-18
Luke 24:1-12

 

  • 11th March
    2011
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Thus, my friends, we know what is the new life that is to be like the resurrection life of the Lord. A previous life must die; the apostle calls it the body of sin, the law of sin in our members, and this needs no lengthened discussion. We all know and feel that this life, which Scripture calls a being dead in sins, pleasant and splendid as may be the form it often assumes, is yet nothing but what the mortal body of the Saviour also was, an expression and evidence of the power of death, because even the fairest and strongest presentation of this kind lacks the element of being imperishable. Thus with the mortal body of the Saviour, and thus also with the natural life of man, which is as yet not a life from God. — “Christ’s Resurrection An Image of Our New Life
A quote from an Easter sermon by Friedrich Schleiermacher, an influential 19th-century theologian known as the “Father of Modern Protestant Theology.” This quote, on the necessity of putting to death the “old man” of our sinful nature, is most appropriate for Lent.

(Source: biblegateway.com)

  • 9th March
    2011
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40 Days For Life Campaign Begins!

40 days for life logo

This Lenten season, from March 9 to April 17, people around the world & in hundreds of cities across America will be uniting again for the largest & longest coordinated pro-life mobilization in history: the 40 Days For Life Campaign. Recognizing that “with God all things are possible,” people of faith are praying that this effort will help bring an end to the tragedy of abortion.

40 Days For Life is a focused pro-life campaign that has already mobilized over 400,000 people worldwide, saved more than 3500 babies from abortion, led to the conversion of 43 abortion workers, and seen 9 abortion facilities close. 40 Days For Life is made up of 3 components:

1) Prayer and Fasting: believers everywhere are invited to join together for fervent prayer & fasting for an end to abortion.

2) Peaceful Vigil: stand for life during a 40-day peaceful public witness outside an abortion clinic in your community.

3) Community Outreach: help take a positive, upbeat pro-life message to every corner of your city through media efforts, advocacy, and public visibility.

The 40-day campaign tracks Biblical history, where God used 40-day periods to transform individuals, communities, and the entire world. From Noah in the flood, to Moses on the mountain, to the disciples after Christ’s resurrection, it is clear that God sees the transformative value of His people accepting and meeting a 40-day campaign.

Learn how you can speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves by finding a local 40 Days For Life group near you!

Please pray for love and choose life.

  • 11th February
    2011
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Hannah’s Prayer ~ 1 Samuel 2:1-10 (NIV)

1 Then Hannah prayed and said:
“My heart rejoices in the LORD;
in the LORD my horn[a] is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.

2 “There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.

3 “Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the LORD is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed.

4 “The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry are hungry no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.

6 “The LORD brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.
7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.
8 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.

“For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s;
on them he has set the world.
9 He will guard the feet of his faithful servants,
but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.

“It is not by strength that one prevails;
10 those who oppose the LORD will be broken.
The Most High will thunder from heaven;
the LORD will judge the ends of the earth.

“He will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

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There are so many women in God’s word to admire & attempt to emulate, but Hannah holds a special place in my heart. And this prayer of hers, one of many surely, is likely my favorite passage in the Bible. 

  • 23rd December
    2010
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Come Home

I’ve been reading several different Advent devotionals this Christmas season, but one in particular from Pastor Rick Warren (of Saddleback Church & Purpose Driven Life fame) really stuck with me. It’s just a powerful, simple & beautiful message of love that i pray is a blessing to all who read it.

Come Home to God’s Love and Forgiveness 
 by Rick Warren

Nothing in all creation is able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.Romans 8:39 (NIV)

“Christmas proves that God loves you!”

Did you know that your heavenly Father wants you to come home this Christmas? It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done or how long you’ve done it.  God says, “I want you to come home to My love and My forgiveness.” That’s what Christmas is all about.

What would keep you from doing that?  What would keep you from coming home to God’s love and forgiveness? The fear of rejection. 

You may think, “God wouldn’t want me now. I’m too far away from God. I’ve been away too long. I’ve done too many things He probably wouldn’t approve of.” 

If that’s what you think, you’re dead wrong! Romans 8:39 (NIV) says, ”Nothing in all creation is able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.” God doesn’t care who you are or what you’ve done or how long you’ve done it. He still loves you and wants to forgive you. 

But how do you know God loves you? Christmas proves it. God came to earth in a human form - Jesus Christ - to show that he loves you and wants to forgive you.  The Bible says, ”God showed how much He loved us by sending His only Son into the world so that we can have eternal life through Him. This is real love. He sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (1 John 4:9-10 NLT).

Here’s how you know that Scripture is true: Jesus didn’t stay in a little cradle in the manger. He grew up. He went from the cradle to the cross.

On the cross with His arms outstretched He said, in essence,“I’d rather die than live without you.”  That’s how much God loves you. Christ left His home in heaven and came to earth to show His love for you and to pay for your sins so that you could be forgiven and come home to Him. 

That’s real love. That’s the reason for Christmas.

Wishing everyone the joy & love that only comes from Christ and may you all have a very Merry Christmas, from my family to yours!