saluki downtime december 9, 2024

Saluki downtime Dec 9, 20204

What are you thankful for? 

What have you learned about yourself this semester?

Where have you grown? 

What are you looking forward to over break?

Mary 

 Luke 1:30-33

30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Do you think you have found favor with God?

What are your thoughts on this statement?

LUKE 1:34-37

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[b] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

Have you ever questioned or doubted God? 

What are some areas in which we doubt God? 

What did the Angel tell Mary? - the power of the Most High will overshadow you. 

Verse 37 - for no word from God will ever fail. 

Luke 1:38-39

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

39 At that time, Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,

Mary said, "I am the Lord’s servant," committing her life to doing what God called her to do. 

Where are you? 

Mary then, in verse 39, got ready and hurried to a town. 

I can go through what I am going through because of what God did through your circumstances.

This Story made me think a lot about where God has me. Am I committing to where I am because God has me where he wants me? 

Or am I trying to do my own thing? 

There is a balance that you have to learn for yourself. 

Patience and Pay off - be faithful daily.

Who am I?

Who is God to you?

Saluki downtime Dec 2, 2024

Saluki downtime Dec 2, 2024

How long does it take to grow a hundred-foot tree?

How long does it take to paint an extraordinary painting?

How long does it take to become a professional athlete?

the 10,000-hour rule. idea that suggests it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert in a field:

Saul to Paul - Short version -

• He addressed a Jewish crowd during his arrest in Jerusalem (Acts 22:1-21).

• Then again, before King Agrippa in Acts 26:9-20.

Saul was born in Tarsus but spent his formative years in Jerusalem, where he studied under the esteemed teacher Gamaliel. He was known for his intelligence, but despite his strong belief in God, he persecuted the followers of Jesus, viewing them as a threat to his faith. Saul actively sought to arrest these disciples, instilling fear in their hearts.

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.— Galatians 1:13–14

While traveling to Damascus to capture more followers, Saul was suddenly enveloped in a blinding light and heard Jesus' voice asking, “Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Realizing that Jesus was alive, Saul was struck with shock and blinded. He was led into Damascus by his companions, where divine intervention was also at work.

Jesus is real and is still alive today. 

Ananias, a believer, had a vision to find Saul, who was chosen to share Jesus's message with the Gentiles. Despite his fear, Ananias healed Saul and restored his sight. After being baptized, Saul preached in Damascus and gained many followers.

Have you ever felt like it was your place to help someone else?

 I don’t want to use the term called by God because that may be too extreme. But a feeling can also be what you are called to do. Your everyday life is to be used by God. 

Saul’s friends lowered him in a basket from the city walls to help him escape threats against his life. Upon returning to Jerusalem, he faced suspicion due to his past but continued spreading the gospel. For his safety, he was eventually sent back to Tarsus.

Paul wrote many books of the Bible, was arrested many times for his belief in Jesus, and found peace in serving God daily. 

Paul knew God loved him so much that he wanted to tell everyone about Jesus. 

God is so patient with us. The earth illustrates his patience. Trees grow year after year, season to season by his faithful stewardship. Flowers never begin as beautiful as they are in full bloom. The earth is constantly undergoing abundant transformation as God’s creation grows and changes. You and I are no different. God’s plan has always been to mold us into beautiful pictures of his love.

God isn’t asking you to be perfect. 

God knows you. Do you know god?

 Psalm 139:1-4 says, “O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.”

John 3:16-18

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Flee from the devil. The devil is real.