Day 38 ~ Rev. 1-7

This is the hardest blog I have had to write during this time of “Faith Comes By Hearing.” There is so much in the first seven chapters of the book of Revelation that I could probably write a blog on each chapter. The last book of the New Testament, Revelation, has always been a mystery and a book that most Christians avoid reading. I find in fascinating because it tells us what is to come. Although hard to understand, if you do an in-depth study of the book, it should give you a feeling of peace. Yes, there are a lot of terrible things written in the book, but if you are one of the faithful to Jesus Christ, you have nothing to worry about.
At the end of each of the messages to the seven churches is a promise to those who are faithful to the end. To the church in Ephesus - To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. To the church in Smyrna - He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. To the church in Pergamum - To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it]. To the church in Thyatira - to him will I give power over the nations. To the church in Sardis - He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. To the church in Philadelphia - Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name. To the church in Laodicea - To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
This only covers the first three chapters of what John saw and heard about these seven churches. Our reward is great if we stay faithful to the end. Doesn’t this make you want to tell everyone about the Good News of Jesus Christ?

Mike Dickmann

Day 37 ~ 1 John - 2-Jude

WOW we read four books of the Bible today! Granted they are short books but none the less you are doing GREAT! It is hard to believe that we only have 3 reading days left and that Easter is right around the corner. Let’s finish strong as we let God’s word speak to us.

1John 4:10 ESV In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Throughout the Bible God calls us to love each other, our enemies, and those that surround us each and everyday. We can’t deny that our God is one of relationship and love. Love is described wonderfully by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 and true love has some very distinguishable characteristics. One of those characteristics is that it loves no matter what. Real love happens weather someone deserves it or not. It is easy to love those who love us. It is natural to love those who bless our lives in some way or another. But true love, loves no matter what. This is the kind of love God had for each one of us. He loved us despite of our sin, and shortcomings. He loved us and sent His one and only Son to die for us when we would have been considered unlovable even by our own standards. I pray that modern day disciples can learn from God’s example and that we might be a people who are defined by our generous love that is extended to everyone.

Pastor Pete

Day 36 ~ 1 Peter 1 - 1 John 1

God is Light.
He is the Word of Life.

The disciples had seen and walked with Jesus. They touched Him. Jesus revealed Himself to them. They knew who and what He is. “Walking in the Light”
1 John 1:5
“God is Light”
In Him there is no darkness at all.
When we walk with Jesus we walk in the light, we have fellowship with Him and His blood cleanses us.
When we turn to our own ways we walk in darkness and lose fellowship with Jesus. When we lie to ourselves and or each other about our walk we are in darkness. We fall out of fellowship with Jesus. This is when I feel the most alone. The struggles and worries of this world seem to overwhelm me. I feel as though I will never get through. The struggles will never end and I will fall and not be able to get up. I will be trampled by the stampede of this world.
When everything seems to be at it’s darkest somehow, someway a spot of light appears. When I turn to this Light and reach for it my world gets brighter. The more I focus on the Light the brighter and bigger it gets. When the Light is all around me; when it is everywhere I look, that is when I see that I have turned to Jesus to take my worries.
I have been talking to Him; relying on Him for everything.
His presence is with me, guiding me and keeping me out of the darkness. His Holy Spirit is back in control of me.
Are you walking in the darkness or in the Light?

Arch Stockton

Day 35 ~ hebrews 11 - James 5

Hebre4ws 11 begins by naming some important figures in the Old Testament and what they did with their strong faith in God. Imagine the faith it would have taken to build an ark, leave our home and go to a place where God was sending you even though you did not know where, offer your only son as a sacrifice, lead a nation in a desert for frty years, or walk in between to separated walls of the Red Sea! Alll of these acts of faith were done before Jesus and without the Holy Spirit ndwelling inside of them. What then should we be able to step out on in faith with having the Holy Spirit indwelling inside of us; guiding us, teaching us, reminding us of Jesus' words, being our strength and support in moments of weakness, our counselor in difficult times, sadness, fear, or suffering?

James 2 discusses the good deeds that should accompany a Christian. We are saved by the grace of God and the faith we have in accepting Jesus into our hearts. James 2:17-18, "In the same way, faith by itself, if not accompanied by action is dead. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by wht I do." These verses explain how faith that saves produces good deeds. We as Christians should strve to spread God's word, obey His commands, make disciples, and do good deeds.

Wilson Winn

Day 33 ~ 1 Timothy 6 - Hebrew 1

In Titus 3:1-2 Paul told Titus to remind believers to be subject to all rulers, to authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good deed, to spak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for the unsaved rulers and all men. Christians are to exemplify these Godly virtues in dealing with everyone. Many times, when things go wrong, we become quarrelsome instaead of showing consideration for our fellow man.

How much better our country would be if we would follow these rules given so long ago. Our homes and church family would be pleased if we took these words and planted them in our hearts.

Bob Hogan

Day 30 ~ Galatians 5 - Philippians 1

“The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Does this seem like a hard command to follow? I don’t know about you, but there are some people who I have a difficult time loving. The Golden Rule is taught to our children from an early age, but how often do we keep this rule in mind for ourselves? When someone cuts us off on the road, moves ahead of us in the workplace, or otherwise takes advantage of us, is love our first reaction? Paul says that we need to make a conscious effort to keep unity among one another. If I am being honest with myself, I will realize that peace with others is not always my goal as I go throughout life. I am often too quick to judge others and become disappointed when their actions don’t meet my expectations. This is in contrast to the kind of peace Paul preaches and that Christ desires for his church.
How do we go about keeping unity among one another? Paul says it is by serving one another in love. This is especially crucial among followers of Christ. We must realize how much we need each other. We cannot go through the Christian life alone. How important the family of God is for believers! It is my prayer that Cowboy Fellowship be a church where love is flowing freely. Nonbelievers know that we are His by the love that we show for one another. Next time you are tempted to think an ill thought or negatively react towards another, make the effort to live at peace instead.

Adam Shelburne

Day 29 ~ II Corinthians 10 - Galatians 4

2 Corinthians 10:23 Are they ministers in Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, suffered more than any other Apostle and more than any of us could ever stand. He was beaten, stoned, whipped and even ship wrecked three times for his love and faith of our Lord. Although we still hear of Christian persecution in the world, in America we do not know of such things. Yes, we have our problems, but nothing like Paul went through. We have people or groups that are trying to take away our beliefs like prayer in school, and prayer before special events, and calling Christmas winter holiday. These are things we can overcome if we just stand up for what we believe.
In Galatians, Paul speaks about our faith and the Law of Moses. The law was not given to justify mankind but because of the transgressions of mankind until Jesus would come. We are saved by grace through faith, not by works. No amount of works will get us into heaven. It is by confessing our sins and believing that Jesus died for our sins that save us. I believe that good works happen because of this. For if you believe that Jesus is Lord, how could you do anything but good works? May God bless you in all you do.

Mike Dickmann