Category: Bible

Bible, Jesus

Ambassadors for Christ

everydaywiththeking

When you became a follower of Jesus, you began a new life in Christ.

 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  -2 Corinthians 5:17

You know that Jesus is your Lord and you want to truly know and serve Him. You have the Holy Spirit to help and guide you each day.  Even so, you might find that the distractions of this world cause you to lose focus and drift away from acting like who you really are.

Sometimes we need to be reminded of our true identity and the difference it makes in every aspect of life.

We physically live in the same world but now as citizens of the Kingdom of heaven. See Philippians 3:20.

Since becoming a Kingdom citizen, your full allegiance is always due to your King.

In the Bible, we find believers called

  • pilgrims
  • strangers
  • aliens
  • foreigners
  • ambassadors

See  -Hebrews 11:13  -1 Peter 1:17  -1 Peter 2:11  -Ephesians 6:20  -2 Corinthians 5:20

Our concern is to represent the King and His kingdom wherever we are.

Our quest is to know Jesus and make Him known to others.

We should grab every opportunity to promote the kingdom.

Have you thought about the honor and responsibility of being an ambassador for Christ?

Take a moment to watch the short video below.

Tourist or Ambassador?

What an honor to represent Jesus as a kingdom ambassador!

Read a related post  Embassy of the Kingdom

Let us serve with joy

Every day with the King

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Bible study

Summer Bible Studies

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Spring is almost over and everyone is busy getting ready for Summer.

Will you be including a Bible Study in your Summer plans?

I have put together a listing of Summer Bible Studies along with their start dates. Follow the links below for all the details. Research the options now and pray about what is the right choice for you. Then you will need to sign up and get your workbook.

Summer Bible Studies

Heart to Heart Women’s Bible Study

  • Jesus The One And Only – Beth Moore   – starts on  July 16

Womens Bible Cafe

  • The Quest – Beth Moore  – June 25

Proverbs 31 Ministries

  • Seamless – Angie Smith  – June 25

First 5

  • What Matters Most  – June 18
  • That You May Believe  – July 2

Love God Greatly

  • Truth Over Lies  – June 18

Interested in an E-Course?

For more Bible study links and resources, visit the Bible Study Page

Do you know of a great study that I’ve not included?

You are welcome to share in the comments below.

What study are you planning to do?

Please leave a comment 🙂

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Bible

Embassy of the Kingdom of Heaven

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Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

– 2 Corinthians 5:20 NKJV

We are ambassadors for Christ

Embassy –   office or residence of an ambassador

You are an ambassador for Christ. So, is your home an embassy?

Pour yourself a cup of tea, sit down and visit with Ludmilla, a dear 82-year old widow living in the Czech Republic. Outside her home hangs a plaque that reads, “Embassy of the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Embassy of the Kingdom of Heaven

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

– 2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV

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The above verse is referring to believers but I find an application here for our homes also.

Our home should be like the jar of clay.

It’s not about how beautiful the home looks but what is inside.

Ludmilla is truly living as a representative of God’s kingdom here on earth.

Her example is one to follow.

Do you think of your home as an Embassy of the Kingdom?

What makes a home an Embassy of the Kingdom?

I would love to know your thoughts ♥

Embassy of the Kingdom of Heaven

 

 

Bible study, Worry

Stop Worrying E-Course

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About two years ago I wrote a blog series on the subject of worry.

See all four parts of  〉〉 The Worry Series

I’ve now written some new material containing a strategy for overcoming worry.

Who doesn’t have a problem with worry and stress?

Would you like some help dealing with this?

Stop Worrying is a new E-Course available now

This course provides practical help for dealing with worry presented in a simple step by step manner.

Don’t live as a slave to your worries. You can take steps today and find freedom.

VIEW COURSE »

Stop Worrying 

Worried about the cost of the Stop Worrying E-Course?

This course is only $7.00 🙂

So stop worrying and enroll now!

⇒Stop Worrying

Stop Worrying (1)

Become fully equipped to conquer worry! 

The course along with the blog series is a powerful combination

Enroll in the E-Course AND read the 4 -part → Worry Series 

You will find that the E-Course and the blog series are completely different. Access both to have everything you need to stop worrying! 

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Bible, Goals, Jesus

Fruit Display

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“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

-John 15:1-8 NKJV

So much in this portion of scripture to study and apply to our lives. Jesus is speaking to us as much today as He was when He said those words to the disciples.

If and only if we are truly abiding in the Vine will there be fruit to bear. Notice we do not make the fruit but we are bearing the fruit. I like to think of this as the fact that as branches we are displaying or holding the fruit. I picture anything that has the purpose of displaying something else. When you look at a vine full of fruit you will notice the fruit, not the branch that is holding the fruit.

Keeping this in mind should help us be quick to give all glory to God. Let’s live each day seeking to bring attention to Jesus, not ourselves.

You're invited to an

 

 

Bible, Jesus

Risen Indeed!

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But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.   -Mark 16:6

The precious blessing of Easter is that we have a living Saviour! The Lord is risen. He is risen indeed! We yearn to keep the precious blessing of Easter in our hearts throughout the year. Lord Jesus. Will You, through Your Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with the knowledge and surety that You live.   – Corrie ten Boom

I serve a risen Savior, He_s in the world today;I know that He is living whatever men may say;I see His hand of mercy, I hear

Please open your Bible and join me in reading Luke chapter 24.

Wow, don’t you love this chapter?

The disciples must have been overwhelmed with uncontainable joy.

And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,  and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.   –Luke 24:52-53

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Ask Jesus to show Himself to you today as you walk along with Him.

I pray we respond to our Risen Lord Jesus in the same way the disciples did.

Blessings

Lynn

Bible, Goals, Morning devotions, prayer, Quiet time

First 5

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“Ten minutes spent in the presence of Christ every day, aye, two minutes, will make the whole day different.”  – Henry Drummond
If you have read only a few posts here on Every Day with the King, you surely know there are no subjects mentioned more than starting your day with Jesus and Bible studies. Today I would like to suggest an option that is designed for when you have very little time and yet is very adaptable for when you have more time. So whether you have 5 minutes or 30, this is designed to fit your life.

It is – First 5

If you are not familiar with First 5, please take the time to check it out. The app is free. Join and get started today. You will find the daily reading each morning on the app. If you want to order the Experience guide you will find lots of material to expand your study. The guide is completely optional.

The app includes many features to explore. Past studies are always accessible along with the current study. You can comment and be involved at what level is best for you. There are community groups. These are groups where you can meet to discuss the study right there on the app.

The First 5 studies are extremely well written and presented. My favorite thing about First 5 is that it is designed to make everything about starting your day with Jesus so simple!

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Check out the First 5 Help Page to find so much more information.

Have you experienced First 5?

Leave a comment below 🙂

Bible, Faith, Goals

Simple

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Do you feel overwhelmed with   (fill in the blank)  

  • too much information
  • too many choices
  • too much stuff

I could keep adding to the list but I’m sure you get the idea of what I’m talking about. We seem to be drowning in too much everything! It is the cause of a huge amount of the stress people have come to accept as normal.

Recently this overload has been recognized as the cause of terrible stress, resulting in poor physical and mental health. One of the biggest problems is the overload of social media. Are smartphones really a smart idea?

Great that the problem has been identified. Next comes the challenge of what to do about it. It is pretty easy to find some help today. There are books, articles, videos, even entire websites devoted to returning to a simpler lifestyle. You will easily find much on the subject of living better with less, minimalism, and many practical tips to make much-needed changes.

However, I do not think we have explored the problem from the Christian perspective. Many of us are living with an overload in areas like Bible study, prayer, Church activities… There is a constant flood of information, too many choices, and excessive social media options available to the believer today! The availability of all things “Christian” sounds good, but is it all too much? I think so. What do you think? The explosion of instantly available materials, social media and more in the Christian world has contributed to our loss of focus. We begin to drift from the simple basics of our faith.

Here’s what I asked on Facebook this week ↓

Question:
What comes to mind when you think of the word SIMPLE? 

I was writing this post and wondered if SIMPLE was the right word to use. After reading comments that people shared I feel encouraged. I think I’m starting to hear the rumbling of a move toward returning to the simple basics of the Christian life! 🙂

First, let’s define simple

1. easy to understand, deal with, use, etc.

2. not elaborate or artificial; plain:

3. not ornate or luxurious; unadorned:

4. unaffected; unassuming; modest: a simple manner.

5. not complicated: a simple design.
6. not complex or compound; single.

7. occurring or considered alone; mere; bare: the simple truth; a simple fact.

 (Go to Dictionary.com-simple to find more on the definition of simple)
Looking at definitions causes me to wonder why simple has been so undervalued. It seems that it should be especially desirable for followers of Jesus.

 Let’s take a look at a portion of scripture that might be helpful in understanding how we go off track.

Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed.  “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!”

 The manna looked like small coriander seeds, and it was pale yellow like gum resin.  The people would go out and gather it from the ground. They made flour by grinding it with hand mills or pounding it in mortars. Then they boiled it in a pot and made it into flat cakes. These cakes tasted like pastries baked with olive oil.  The manna came down on the camp with the dew during the night.

Numbers 11:4-9  NLT

 How could it be that God’s provision of daily bread from heaven was not satisfying to the people? Manna was not good enough? These verses seem to indicate an influence from other people and a looking back at the world they left behind. God set these people apart but instead of praising God for His care they craved something more… Simple manna didn’t seem like enough.
Today there is a call from the world to join in a quest for the latest new thing. The push is for constant updating. The result of this influence causes us to think we need to read the latest book, use the newest prayer model, follow the latest Christian social media, join multiple Bible studies… Meanwhile, maybe you never got around to just sitting down with Jesus and reading His word for you today.
Sometimes what we need is to let some things go and cling to what truly matters. Is Jesus enough for you_
In 2 Corinthians 11:3 Paul warned against drifting from the simplicity that is in Christ.
God’s word is never outdated.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.
The Holy Spirit has a training course that is perfectly designed for you!
We have the written word = Bible

                         Living Word = Jesus

Jesus said

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and over-burdened, and I will give you rest! Put on my yoke and learn from me. For I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30  J.B. Phillips New Testament

Let’s listen to someone who never seemed to forget the power of the simple basics.

Click on one of the links below to watch ↓
Apparently, some are now debating if Billy Graham’s theology was too simple. What do you think? Who wants to join me in a return to the simple basics?
Please comment below ♥
Is Jesus enough for you_ (1)
Bible, Morning devotions, Quiet time, Uncategorized

Morning Manna

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While reading my Bible and having coffee early in the morning, I see the birds getting their breakfast of seeds from the ground and feeder. I love supplying seed and watching the birds come each day. It brings me true pleasure to watch them arrive, feed and linger awhile. Add heading

I often think about the comparison of the bird’s morning feeding with the way I start my mornings. What a delightful thought to see myself similar to a little bird coming to spend time with my heavenly Father. My food, morning manna, is His Word and He is always there. He is always present, watching, providing, caring and even enjoying my coming to Him.

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Come early in the morning and start your day with the King!

Bible, Goals

The Shepherd’s Way

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It seems that often the shepherds are overlooked. Maybe because they don’t seem as interesting as the wise men who followed the star. We picture the wise men in royal robes surrounded by mystery.

The shepherds were uneducated men of low status. They would certainly not stand out in a crowd. These ordinary shepherds bring to mind a lowly shepherd boy by the name of David. He was not special in appearance but God selected him to become King. But more importantly, the shepherds remind us that Jesus is the Great Shepherd who will be returning as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Please open your Bible to the familiar passage in the Gospel of Luke or read below in one of my favorite versions.

There were some shepherds living in the same part of the country, keeping guard throughout the night over their flocks in the open fields. Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by their side, the splendour of the Lord blazed around them, and they were terror-stricken. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen, I bring you glorious news of great joy which is for all the people. This very day, in David’s town, a Saviour has been born for you. He is Christ, the Lord. Let this prove it to you: you will find a baby, wrapped up and lying in a manger.” And in a flash there appeared with the angel a vast host of the armies of Heaven, praising God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest Heaven! Peace upon earth among men of goodwill!”

– Luke 2:8-14   J.B. Phillips

As far as we know these shepherds were not looking for or expecting anything out of the ordinary on that night, as they were caring for their flocks. But, their lives were forever changed in a moment, when their eyes moved from watching sleeping sheep to seeing and hearing angels! 

When the angels left them and went back into Heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Now let us go straight to Bethlehem and see this thing which the Lord has made known to us.”

 So they came as fast as they could and they found Mary and Joseph—and the baby lying in the manger. And when they had seen this sight, they told everybody what had been said to them about the little child. And those who heard them were amazed at what the shepherds said. But Mary treasured all these things and turned them over in her mind. The shepherds went back to work, glorifying and praising God for everything that they had heard and seen, which had happened just as they had been told.            Luke 2:15-20    J.B. Phillips

As soon as the angels leave, the shepherds go without delay to find Jesus. We don’t know what they said or how they reacted when they saw newborn baby Jesus lying in a manger. I am certain that they knelt in silent worship.

Next, they begin telling everyone. Then they go back to work. This amazing beyond description experience has just been theirs but yet they have to return to the same old life. What is different is inside of them. They return to work but they are glorifying and praising God!

The Shepherd’s Way

  1. Go
  2. Tell
  3. Return
  4. Glorify and praise God

Thinking about the response of the shepherds leads to some questions for us.

Are we eager to spend time with Jesus?

Are we telling others about Him?

Are we living praise-filled lives that bring glory to God?

Merry Christmas

Please click on the link below to watch a beautiful film 

Joni and Friends Blog – film “The Shepherd”