Trail Mix - 2.7.19

February 7, 2019 – “Salvation is free. You can’t earn it and you don’t deserve it. Discipleship is not free. It will cost you everything. Jesus used terms that sound strange today like, “Let the dead bury the dead, deny yourself, take up your cross, put your hand to the plow and don’t look back and dying daily.” These are terms that demand unquestioned obedience and absolute loyalty. Are you willing to “sell out” to Christ, “lock, stock, and barrel?” Notice that Jesus said that unless we are willing to make a great commitment to the great commandment and the great commission we cannot be His disciple.” S. E. Trail

My prayer for you today is for you to be “sold out” to Jesus in every way.

Weekly Memory Verse Challenge - 2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. KJV

"Preacher Football Terms”

Quarterback Sneak - Church members quietly leaving during the invitation.
Draw Play - What many children do with the bulletin during worship.
Halftime - The period between Sunday School and worship when many choose to leave
Benchwarmer - Those who do not sing, pray, work, or apparently do anything but sit.
Backfield-in-Motion - Making a trip to the back (restroom or water fountain) during the service.
Staying in the Pocket - What happens to a lot of money that should be given to the Lord's work.
Two-minute Warning - The point at which you realize the sermon is almost over and begin to gather up your children and belongings.
Instant Replay - The preacher loses his notes and falls back on last week's illustrations.
Sudden Death - What happens to the attention span of the congregation if the preacher goes "overtime.”
Trap - You're called on to pray and are asleep.
End Run - Getting out of church quick, without speaking to any guest or fellow member.
Flex Defense - The ability to allow absolutely nothing said during the sermon to affect your life.
Halfback Option - The decision of 50% of the congregation not to return for the evening service.
Blitz - The rush for the restaurants following the closing prayer. ChristiansUnite.com

 2019 Bible Reading Schedule – Leviticus 16-18

Trail Mix - 2.6.19

February 6, 2019 – Gleanings from Vance Havner - “The Communist Lenin had this motto, “Fewer but better.” What he meant was that it was better to have 100 fanatics than 1,000 who were indifferent or lukewarm. John Wesley said, "Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on Earth." Give us such men, Lord!”

My prayer for you today is that you would be the kind of person who would “assault hell with a squirt gun!” S. E. Trail

Weekly Memory Verse Challenge - 2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. KJV

“The story of Adam and Eve was being carefully explained in the children's Sunday School class. Following the story, the children were asked to draw some picture that would illustrate the story. Little Bobby was most interested and drew a picture of a car with three people in it. In the front seat, behind the wheel was a man and in the back seat, a man and a woman. The teacher was at a loss to understand how this illustrated the lesson of Adam and Eve. But little Bobby was prompt with his explanation. "Why, this is God driving Adam and Eve out of the garden!" ChristiansUnite.com

2019 Bible Reading Schedule – Leviticus 14-15

Trail Mix - 2.5.19

February 5, 2019 – Gleanings from Vance Havner - “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw night to you.” Many folks employ a lot of religious hustle and bustle in the attempt and ignore the things set forth in God’s Word that will accomplish the goal. God has provided His Word, prayer, and many other ways of drawing closer to Him. A step up in commotion, mis-directed zeal or an emotional binge won’t do what needs to be done. What we need already is there but like sugar in the sweet tea, it needs to be stirred up. S. E. Trail

My prayer for you today is for you to “stir up the gift that is in you.”

Weekly Memory Verse Challenge - 2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. KJV

“An Amish man wanted a loan for $500. He approached his local banker. The banker pulled out the loan application, asking, "What are you going to do with the money?" "Take some jewelry to city and sell it," said the Amish man. "What have you got for collateral?" queried the banker, going strictly by the book. "Don't know what collateral means." "Well that's something of value that would cover the cost of the loan. Have you got any vehicles?" "Yes, I have a 1949 Chevy pickup." The banker shook his head, "How about livestock?" "Yes, I have a horse." "How old is it?" "I don't know; it has no teeth." Finally the banker decided to make the $500 loan. Several weeks later the Amish man was back in the bank. He pulled out a roll of bills, "Here's the money to pay loan," he said, handing the entire amount including interest. "What are you going to do with the rest of that money?" "Put it in my pocket." "Why don't you deposit it in my bank?" he asked. "I don't know what deposit means." "Well, you put the money in our bank and we take care of it for you. When you want to use it you can withdraw it." The Amish man leaned across the desk, looking suspiciously at the banker, and asked, "What you got for collateral?" ChristiansUnite.com

2019 Bible Reading Schedule – Leviticus 13

Trail Mix - 2.4.19

February 4, 2019 – “Are you more interested in the “Blesser” or the “blessing?” Many of us are so focused on the gift that we miss seeing the Giver! It’s possible to pray for a blessing for years and become so occupied with this or that thing that we sacrifice the best on the altar of the good. Rest in the “Blesser, the Giver” and then whatever we may lose, we have in Him, and in Him we have everything! In Him is “all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” S. E. Trail

My prayer for you today is for you to appreciate all you have in Christ.

Weekly Memory Verse Challenge - Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

 “A strong young man at the construction site was bragging that he could outdo anyone in a feat of strength. He made a special case of making fun of Morris, one of the older workmen. After several minutes, Morris had enough. "Why don't you put your money where your mouth is?" he said. "I will bet a week's wages that I can haul something in a wheelbarrow over to that outbuilding that you won't be able to wheel back." "You're on, old man," the braggart replied. "It's a bet! Let's see what you got." Morris reached out and grabbed the wheelbarrow by the handles. Then, nodding to the young man, he said, "All right. Get in." ChristiansUnite.com

2019 Bible Reading Schedule – Leviticus 10-12

Trail Mix - 2.3.19

February 3, 2019 – “What is the world looking for when they see Christians? We believe that they are looking for consistency in our behavior. One unsaved man said, “I’d be a Christian if I didn’t know so many Christians.” What an indictment! Also, they are looking to see if we really care. Someone said that, “Folks won’t know how much we care until we show how much we care.” Compassion moved Jesus and it should move us also.  The American church is filled with folks whose conduct doesn’t compliment their creed. Jesus had much to say concerning this kind of contradiction. The Scriptures declare that believers must take care to avoid the “appearance of evil.”   S. E. Trail

My prayer for you today is for your “light” to shine the love of Jesus wherever you go.

Weekly Memory Verse Challenge - Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

”The old time pastor was galloping down the road, rushing to get to church on time. Suddenly his horse stumbled and pitched him to the ground. In the dirt with a broken leg, the pastor called out, "All you saints in Heaven help me get up on my horse!" Then, with superhuman effort, he leaped onto the horse's back and fell off the other side. Once again on the ground, he called to Heaven, "All right, just half of you this time!" ChristiansUnite.com

2019 Bible Reading Schedule – Leviticus 8-9

Trail Mix - 2.2.19

February 2, 2019 – “God is always seeking to “enlarge” our vision and He does this in a curious way. God takes us from one mountain top, through a valley, to the next higher mountain top to increase our view. Job was already a man of faith when God allowed him to go through a deep valley to the next mountain top. When he got to the top he said, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee.” Thank God for the valleys!” S. E. Trail

My prayer for you today is that you would be able to praise God in any circumstance of your life.

Weekly Memory Verse Challenge - John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. KJV

Exercise program for those over 60!

“Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 5- kg potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax. Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10- kg potato bags. Then try 50- kg potato bags and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100- kg potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at this level.) After you feel confident at each level, put a potato in each bag. ChristiansUnite.com

2019 Bible Reading Schedule – Leviticus 5-7

Trail Mix - 2.1.19

February 1, 2019 – “Isaiah 12:2 declares that the Lord is my salvation, my strength and my song! All of us want strength for life’s journey and the human heart needs a song for the everyday grind of life. There is only one true source for both and that is to make the Savior your salvation. No one can do this for us; we must receive His salvation personally to have His strength and His song.  “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid…” There can be no song without the Savior! Invite Jesus into your heart, make Him Lord of your life and you will have a song to sing!” S. E. Trail  

My prayer for you today is for you to "...know Christ and the power of His resurrection."

 

Weekly Memory Verse Challenge - John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. KJV

“Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, "Why is the bride dressed in white?" "Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life." The child thought about this for a moment, then said, "So why is the groom wearing black?" ChristiansUnite.com

2019 Bible Reading Schedule – Leviticus 1-4