05/05             Romans 1:10-12 

One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. 11 For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. 12 When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. 

ENCOURAGE

We need to encourage one another.  Life is hard and quick.  People all around you are struggling.  Commit to be an encourager.  Look for the value in others.  God loves them and has a plan for their life.  Value them as the Lord Jesus does and take every opportunity to encourage others. 

05/04          Romans 1:8-9
Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world.  9 God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son. 

GRATITUDE
We need to maintain a constancy of gratitude towards our Father.  He loves us beyond what we can comprehend.  Bless the name of the Lord.  Jesus is Lord.

05/03          Romans 1:7
I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 

LOVED
You belong to Jesus.  He loves you.  His righteousness cleanses you.  His love is not based on your works but is based upon His grace.  His love gives you peace with God and grace for living moment by moment.  Jesus is Lord.

05/02          Romans 1:5-6 

Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.  6 And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. 

CALLED
You are called to tell the story of what God has done for you in Jesus Christ.  When you share your story people will believe in Him and obey Him.  You belong to Jesus.  He is alive and is alive in you.  When you believe in Jesus and tell everyone your story you bring great glory to His name. 

05/01          Romans 1:1-4 

This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.  2 God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures.  3 The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, 4 and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. 

JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Good News!  He is your Good News.  He changes everything.  He is life and light for our daily life.  He brings us into the Family of God and He gives us power to live a Godly life growing day by day into Christ’s likeness. 

04/30                  Matthew 10:41-42
If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. 42 And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”

GIVE
We are givers.  We give everything we have.  We give all that we are.  Everything we have belongs to Jesus, He is Lord and we give.  People need Jesus and they need help.  We tell them all that Jesus is doing in our life and we give them the things they need.  We are givers. 

04/29                  Matthew 10:32-40

“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. 34 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35 ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ 37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. 40 “Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me.

YES

Yes, I belong to Jesus.  Yes, He is my king, my Savior and Lord.  Jesus is my guide, my strength and my rock.  I follow Jesus. 

04/28                  Matthew 10:26

“But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 27 What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear! 28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin ? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

VALUABLE

You are valuable not because of what you do but because you are a member of the Family of God.  Jesus has saved you.  He will give you His righteousness and His Spirit.  The Holy Spirit fills you.  You belong to Jesus and He belongs to you.  Do not fear the world or anything in the world.  Fear God for He is the real one to fear yet He loves you. 

04/27                  Matthew 10:23-25

When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel. 24 “Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master. 25 Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names!

STAND

We are called to stand.  We stand on God’s Word.  We stand on our faith.  We stand because the power of the almighty Lord and God Jesus Christ brought us into the Family of God and He stands with us.  Therefore, whatever you face stand with the Lord and He will stand with you. 

04/26                  Matthew 10:21-22

“A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed. 22 And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.

ENDURE
Some days all we can do is endure.  There is no shame in that.  We cannot be on a mountaintop all the time.  Yes, endure for in our endurance we discover growth.  In our growth we become more like Jesus.  Jesus is Lord.  Follow Him and remember endure!