Category Archives: Youth Blog

This is a blog for the Youth of the church.

LENT Bible Plan – Day 31

Day 31 – Isaiah 58:6–7
by Annie Kirk

A couple of days ago we read Matthew 6:16–18. Today’s text is along the same lines. It again reminds us that fasting is not for your own benefit. But this time, instead of making the point that fasting is for God’s benefit it’s for the benefit of the poor and the oppressed (= bullied). Good deeds for our own benefit are fine, but we need to have a wider perspective. This is really difficult! Maybe spend some time today thinking about if there is anyone in your life that needs your help. None of us can make the world a perfect place, but all of us can help make it a little better!

LENT Bible Plan – Day 28

Day 28 – John 4:32–34
by Annie Kirk

One of the weirdest, yet most basic things we learn about Jesus is that he is 100 % God and 100 % human. It doesn’t make mathematical sense, but there you have it. As God it makes sense that Jesus didn’t need to eat, but as a human he would need food to survive. Yet, in this passage he refuses to eat, saying the only thing he needs is to do God’s will. What do you think Jesus means when he says that? As humans we obviously need to keep eating to survive, but do you think it’s possible to have the kind of relationship to God where it feels like food is unimportant and the only thing that really matters is your relationship to God? Or was that just for Jesus?

LENT Bible Plan – Day 26

Day 26 – Matthew 6:16–18
by Annie Kirk

I don’t think I’m the only one who wants recognition from others after I’ve done something I’m proud of. And who when I don’t get it, discreetly tries to make people aware of how amazing I am (basically, I’m a lot like the people in the text). If you’re anything like this, you find today’s text very challenging. Maybe you even get annoyed, because let’s face it: having people praise you is half the fun of doing something good! Why would Jesus want to take that away? The thing is, fasting isn’t for your own benefit – it’s for God’s.

Therefore it really doesn’t matter what other people think, only that we’re faithful to God. Guess it’s a good thing lent isn’t over yet, because this is really difficult and we probably need to practise getting our perspective right for a while longer!

LENT BIBLE PLAN DAY 23

Mark 1:14-15+Mark4:17 DAY 23                                                                                    by Sarah Solie

Today reflect on Mark 1:14-15 also read Mark 4:17

Have you ever had the feeling of “I want to feel closer to Jesus, but I don’t know how to”? Well, in Mark 1:17, Jesus gives us the answer to how to solve that problem! Jesus calls Simon, Andrew, James and John to follow him. That’s all we have to do! But here’s where we run into a little roadblock, because Jesus isn’t really on earth anymore, so how are we supposed to follow him? A fantastic place to start is by reading through the Gospels. My freshman year of college, I was just starting to learn about how you can have a personal relationship with Jesus, and someone told me to just start reading in Matthew, and learn about what Jesus was like, as a person, and as the son of God. The act of reading the Gospels with that specific purpose in mind completely reshaped the way I see Jesus! Next time you read one of the Gospels, I hope you’ll envision yourself there with Jesus. Imagine what it would look/smell/sound like if you were there when Jesus performed miracles or gave sermons. Listen to the words he says, as if he’s talking to you.

LENT BIBLE PLAN DAY 22

Mark 1:14-15  DAY 22                                                                                                                    by Sarah Solie

It still baffles me that all we have to do to spend eternity with God is repent and believe in the gospel. Like, what?! It almost sounds too good to be true… But it is! God loves us so much, and He wants us to be with Him forever so badly that He makes it this easy for us to join His kingdom!

LENT BIBLE PLAN DAY 20

Mark 1:14-15 DAY 20                                                                                                                                      by Sarah Solie

Sorry this one is a bit late but it’s still worth reading.

Below is a link that Sarah has been studying and  wants to share for day 20 devotional.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/amyjuliabecker/2014/april/what-happens-when-we-turn-for-real-to-god.html 

LENT BIBLE PLAN DAY 19

Mark 1:14-15 DAY 19                                                                                                                       by Sarah Solie

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Have you ever stopped and thought about what the phrase “the kingdom of God is at hand” means? To be honest, I haven’t until now. But I invite you to pause here for a second and contemplate those words… It wasn’t until Jesus came that the Kingdom of God was open to anybody- Prior to Jesus’ death and resurrection, in order to be part of the Kingdom, you had to follow strict rules that God had given to His chosen people to set them apart from the rest. But once Jesus came, the Kingdom of God was available (“at hand”) for anyone who chose to believe in the Gospel and repent of their sins! What good news is that?! We no longer have to sacrifice lambs to take the blame for our sins, because Jesus was the ultimate Lamb, and he took the sins of everyone everywhere, at any point in time! And all we have to do to receive His grace is to repent and believe, because the kingdom of God is still at hand today!

LENT BIBLE PLAN DAY 17

Day 17- John 1:36-39                                                                                                                                                                  by Jazmine Higgins

It’s almost been 3 weeks of Lent and almost 3 weeks of bible readings, What do you remember, anything special stick out?

Take today to reflect on the past 3 weeks and think about how you have seen God or if you haven’t seen him then ask him to open your heart so that you may see him and that he will show himself to you.

Spend time with him just listening and connecting with him…

 

LENT BIBLE PLAN DAY 14,15,16

Day 14,15,16 – John 1:35-39                                                                                          by Jazmine Higgins

Terribly sorry that I haven’t written devotionals in a few days! Instead of writing so many I will simplify it for y’all and write 3 in 1

Have you every told anyone ” If you do this for me than you’ll be the Best but if you don’t then you’ll be the Worst”

Sometimes we tell God that, we tell him that if he does good things for us and prevents bad things from happening to us then will love him and follow him, but if he let’s bad things happen then he’s the worst and we can’t understand why he would do such a thing to us.

That’s like telling God that he has to follow us and do what we want and forget what he wants. Should we really be doing that to God?

God wants us to follow him because he is the BEST and he knows what we need because remember he made you and the plan for your life.

Think about if you are telling God to follow you or if You are following God… Don’t follow God to gain good things in life and other material things, follow him because he made you, died for you and LOVES YOU

 

 

LENT BIBLE PLAN DAY 13

Day 13 – John 1:35-39 + Psalm 63:1-2
by Jazmine Higgins

First off I apologise that today’s devotional is late!

We all want to feel secure and satisfied in life, so we do anything humanly possible to find that security/satisfaction. Some people find security/satisfaction through material things or media or through sex, drugs, alcohol and some through relationships and many other things. We try everything so that we will feel secure and complete but often those things only secure/satisfy us for a short time, what many don’t try is going to GOD for security and satisfaction.

We need remember ” I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land.”  Psalm 63:1

If you long for security and satisfaction go to God, because God alone can satisfy our deepest longings and make us feel secure and loved!  So if you know someone that is trying to find security and satisfaction in this insecure world try sharing Christ with them, you never know how God is working in them, you may be the perfect thing to start them off on their journey with God!