4Real

Girls, I wanted to tell you a little bit about our weekend at the Revolve Tour! You may be wondering, "What is the Revolve Tour?" Well, it's a two day conference just for teenage girls. We had a blast hanging out together! The theme this year was 4Real and the main idea was that if you want to know who you are 4Real, you have to know who God is 4Real!

We all have our own individual struggles, weaknesses and insecurities. This affects how we view ourselves, others, and God. Our beliefs determine how we behave, and therefore impact the way we relate to friends, guys and even God.

The good news is that the Creator of the universe knows you better than you know yourself. Psalm 139:1-4 says, "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord."

Are you having trouble working through your problems? Well, if God knows you better than you know yourself, then He is the best one to help you work through your insecurities and troubles, right? But in order to get to know Him, you must spend time with Him and get to know His Word. James 4:8 says, "Come near to God and he will come near to you." And Psalm 119:105 says, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

In order to see change in your life, you've got to commit to know God's Word. The more you know it, the more you will know Him, the more you'll understand yourself, and the more you will love Him. I'm not just telling you this because I think you should know it, I'm telling you this because I've experienced it myself and pray that you will experience it, too!

-Leigh Anne

Pumpkin Hunt 2009

I love the fall!! Cooler weather, making smores, leaves changing colors, hot chocolate, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, carving jack-o-lanterns, lots of yummy food, etc, etc, etc!! In our student ministry at DSM, the fall has one of the greatest events of the year - The Pumpkin Hunt!! :) The Pumpkin Hunt will be this Sunday, October 25, from 5:00pm-8:00pm. This is where teenagers and adults search Peachtree City from clue to clue in hopes of finding the pumpkin.......FIRST!! You never know what will happen at the pumpkin hunt, or who you might see, but trust me when I say, you wont want to miss it! Get in touch with your c group leader and tell them you want to participate.....but you must do it soon! They need to know you are coming so they can make sure they have a car big enough to hold you and the rest of your team! Hope to see you all on Sunday night! Who's gonna win this year?

15/15 Challenge: Day 15

Prayer
You made it to day 15! Look back at what the Lord has done in your life through your time with him. Ask him to give you the strength to continue to spend time with him each day.

Don't forget to let him search your heart and show you and selfishness that might be a barrier in your communication with him. Ask him to speak to you through his Word today.



Scripture:

Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come.

Philippians 1:3-11
3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. 8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.


Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.
What does this passage mean? What do you learn about God? What do you learn about yourself? What do you learn about your relationship to Jesus?



Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart. How does this passage apply to your life right now? How will what you have read transform how you live today?



Prayer:

Thank God for how he is moving in your life. Commi your day to him.

15/15 Challenge: Day 14

Opening Prayer:

You only have two more days of the 15/15 Challenge left. Are you going to let this stop? Are you going to continue. Talk with God about that. Ask him to give you the strength to continue to spend time with him each day.



Don't forget to let him search your heart and show you and selfishness that might be a barrier in your communication with him. Ask him to speak to you through his Word today.



Scripture:

Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come.



Hebrews 4:12-16

12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.



Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind. What do you learn about the Word of God?What do you learn about Jesus? What do you learn about yourself?



Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart. How does this passage apply to your life right now? How will what you have read transform how you live today?



Prayer:

Based on what you learned about Jesus in the passage you read today, thank him for who he is - be specific. Are there any areas of weakness that you struggle with? He knows how it feels - talk to him about them!



Commit your day to him.

15/15 Challenge: Day 13

Opening Prayer:
You've got the hang of this part now. Spend as much time in prayer as you need before getting started Remember to ask God to search your heart, take time to listen. Confess your sin to him and thank him for his forgiveness. Ask him to help you understand his Word and apply it to your life today.

Scripture:
Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come.

Lamentations 3:21-26
21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Observation:
Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.Who is speaking?What do you learn about God?What do you learn about yourself?

Application:
Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart. How does this passage apply to your life right now? How will what you have read transform how you live today?

Prayer:
Close out your time by thanking God that his mercies are new every morning. Thank him for who he is and all he is doing in your life. Pray about anything on your heart.
Commit your day to him.

15/15 Challenge: Day 12

Opening Prayer:

You've got the hang of this part now. Spend as much time in prayer as you need before getting started Remember to ask God to search your heart, take time to listen. Confess your sin to him and thank him for his forgiveness. Ask him to help you understand his Word and apply it to your life today.

Scripture:

Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come.

Matthew 6:25-34

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.Who is speaking?What do you learn about God?What do you learn about yourself?

Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart. How does this passage apply to your life right now? How will what you have read transform how you live today?

Prayer:

Do you realize that worry is a sin? Jesus commands us not to worry and yet so many of us do. He knows that when we worry we are putting all our trust in ourselves and not in him. Is there anything that you are worrying about? Are there any areas of your life that you need to release and let him take control? Pray through that right now.

Commit your day to him.

15/15 Challenge: Day 11

Opening Prayer:

Ask God to search your heart, take time to listen. Confess your sin to him and thank him for his forgiveness. Ask him to help you understand his Word and apply it to your life today.

Scripture:

Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come.

Matthew 11:28-30

²⁸"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.

Who is speaking?
What do you learn about Jesus?
What do you learn about yourself?

Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart.
How does this passage apply to your life right now?
How will what you have read transform your thinking and living?

Prayer:

As you read today, Jesus is more than able to carry your burdens. Close your prayer time by asking him to take on your burdens - talk to him about them specifically.

Commit your day to him.

15/15 Challenge: Day 10

Opening Prayer:

Take some time to pray as you open up your time with God. Pour out your heart to him - he wants to hear what you're feeling.

Ask him to search your heart, take time to listen. Confess your sin to him and thank him for his forgiveness. Ask him to help you understand his Word and apply it to your life today.

Scripture:

Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come.

John 15:5-8
⁵"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. ⁸This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.

Who is speaking?
What does the picture of the vine and branches illustrate?
What do you learn about God?
What do you learn about yourself?

Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart.
How does this passage apply to your life right now?
How will what you have read transform your thinking and living?

Prayer:

Close your time with the Lord by praying according to what God has spoken to your heart today through his Word. Commit today to him.

15/15 Challenge - Day 9

Opening Prayer:

Take some time to talk to God. Lay any burdens you have at his feet. Don't forget to take some time to allow him to search your heart and show you any selfishness or wrong doing. Ask him to speak to you through his Word today.

Scripture:

Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come.

Galatians 5:22-25
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.

What does it mean when it says the "fruit of the Spirit?" How do those characteristics become part of your life?

What do you learn about Jesus? The Holy Spirit? Yourself? One another?


Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart.
How does this passage apply to your life right now?
How will what you have read change how you live today?

Prayer:

When you decided to follow Jesus for the first time, you also received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is your guide and gives you power for daily living. Ask the Holy Spirit to live through you today.

15/15 Challenge: Day 8

Opening Prayer:

Open your prayer time thanking God for who his is. Tell him outloud some of his characteristics that you are thankful for.

Don't forget to take some time to allow him to search your heart and show you any selfishness or wrong doing. Ask him to speak to you through his Word today.



Scripture:

Remember that you can read this scripture in your own Bible and underline parts that speak directly to you. If you do that or write them in a journal, you will be able to go back to them in the days to come.

Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)

¹²Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Observation:

Think about what this scripture means. You may want to journal anything that comes to mind.

Who is this text talking about? What do you learn about God? What do you learn about yourself? What do you learn about your relationship with God? Your relationship with others?

Application:

Again, you are welcome to journal anything that God puts on your heart.

How does this passage apply to your life right now?

How will what you have read change how you live today?

Prayer:

Is there anyone in your life that you have not forgiven? Ask God to reveal that to you. If there is someone, what is keeping you from forgiving them? God wants us to forgive each other as he has forgiven us. Ask God to give you the strength to let go of your bitterness towards that person.

Ask God's peace to rule in your heart today no matter what may come your way.

Commit your day to him.