NS30

^"21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen."

(That's from Ephesians 3:21, NLT)

What a cool way to wrap up things. I love Paul's enthusiasm at the end of this chapter!

So, now the texting is over. The thirty days is up, and there will be no more! BUT, please continue to get into God's word. Read it, know it, and live it! I pray that this has encouraged you to read your Bible....or maybe just read it in a new way. Throughout these past 30 days, has God used any of these verses to speak to you? Have you memorized any of the verses? Is there a particular verse that has helped you out? Maybe tell a friend about it, or feel free to let us know!

1...2...3...4...5 days 'till FUEL! GET EXCITED! Keep answering the movie trivia questions for your chance to win an AWESOME prize!

FUEL is this Sunday, August 15th, @ the NLC, from 5-8 and 8-10!

See you there!

NS29

"²⁰ Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."

(This is from Ephesians 3:20, NLT)

I'm so happy I get to serve a God who finds use in things like me, who are otherwise useless! What a good, good God!

Thanks again for checking out the blog and reading the texts!

The daily texts of scripture might be ending...but there are still 6 days until FUEL, which means 6 pirizes you can win by being the first one to text back the correct answer to the daily movie trivia! Good luck...and See you @ FUEL this Sunday, August 15th 5-8 and optional movie night 8-10!

DON'T MISS IT!

Enjoy your Monday!

NS28

^..."19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

(This is from Ephesians 3:19, NIV)

If you've been keeping up with the past few verses from Ephesians 3, then include this in your prayers to God for whoever it is you have been praying for.

Hope you all are liking the daily texting! Just so everyone knows, you can feel free to leave any questions, comments, or concerns as a comment on any post. Feedback is always appreciated!

Check back tomorrow---

Have a great Sunday!

NS27

..."18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is."

(This is from Ephesians 3:18, NLT)

I pray that someone prays this prayer for you, and that you would pray this for someone.

There's this awesome guy named Brennan Manning. He's still around, just really old. He's an author, a friar, a priest, a speaker, and a very Godly man. He received these words from the Lord:

"For love of you I left my Father's side

I came to you who ran from me,who fled me, who did not want to hear my name.

For love of you I was covered with spit, punched and beaten,and fixed to the wood of the cross."

Brennan later wrote that "Those words are burned into my life"...."Once you come to know the love of Jesus Christ, nothing else in the world will seem as beautiful or desirable."

Check the blog again tomorrow, and enjoy your Saturday:]

NS26

..."17 Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong."

(That's from Ephesians 3:17, NLT)

Read this verse a few times, and think of someone who you can pray for as Paul did for the Ephesians. Read yesterday's verse, Eph.3:16, along with today's as you pray for that person.

i.e. "¹⁶ I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources He will empower (name) with inner strength through His Spirit. ¹⁷ Then Christ will make His home in (name's) heart(s) as (name) trust(s) in Him. (Name's) roots will grow down into God’s love and keep (name) strong."

Check back tomorrow for more!

Enjoy your Friday!

NS25

^"16I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,"...

(This is from Ephesians 3:16, NIV)

This week, the verses being sent out for students to read are found in Ephesians chapter 3. These verses are again, written by Paul. They are Paul's prayer for the Ephesians, who are defined in Eph.1:1 as,"...God's holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus". ( 'Ephesus', being a city in that time period.)

Sometimes I like to uses verses, such as this one, as a sort of "prayer guide". No, I don't pray for the Ephesians. However, when ever the word YOU or YOUR is written, I replace it with a person or maybe even a family of whom I would like to pray for.

i.e. "I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen (name) with power through His Spirit in (name's) inner being,"...

Check the blog tomorrow for more!

Enjoy your Thursday!

NS24

^"10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

(This is from Ephesians 2:10, NLT)

According to this verse, we are God's masterpiece! Take some time to reflect on what that means...and how awesome that is!!!

In the second part of this verse, Paul is communicating the same thing he's been saying one way or another throughout Ephesians chapter 2. Paul is writing to let us know that we are alive! Jesus made us alive! If Jesus lives within you, then you are alive through Him. Paul wraps up Ephesians 2:3-9 by letting us know that we have a purpose! We were made by God WITH a purpose.

Praying for you as you continue to challenge yourself with God's word!

Check back tomorrow, and enjoy this wonderful Wednesday!

NS23

"9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."

(That's from Ephesians 2:9, NLT)

What is Paul so concerned about here? What might people misunderstand about salvation?

What might you misunderstand about salvation?

Often times, people misunderstand good works. Some people may believe that good works, or doing good things, is their ticket to eternal life. Others may just think that good things will get God to notice them, or maybe grant them something in return. There are multiple ways to misunderstand doing good things, especially in relation to salvation. As a result, we can live our lives without the grace of Jesus Christ. And if we're missing that...we're missing life! Jesus paid a very high price for our salvation, and in that we have freedom!

Do you or have you ever struggled with this?

Why might God not want anyone to boast or brag about what they've done to earn or contribute to their salvation?

Check back tomorrow guys...

Enjoy your Tuesday!

NS22

^"8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God"

(That is from Ephesians 2:8, NLT)

Paul repeats this idea several times in Ephesians...and for a good reason too! Trying to take credit for grace doesn't make any sense...it's like paying for a gift you give yourself.

You did not / can not earn God's salvation.

Check back tomorrow for yet another verse...it will be texted to you (as always) as well!

Enjoy your Monday!

NS21

^"7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus."

(That's from Ephesians 2:7, NLT)

If you think back to First Timothy- this verse is consistent with what Paul was writing.

Think again...has God used you as an example?

Think of specific ways in your life that God has blessed you with His grace and kindness- and maybe take a moment now or later to thank Him for that.

Check your phones tomorrow...check back here tomorrow....and have a splendid Sunday!

NS20

^"6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus."

(That's from Ephesians 2:6, NLT)

Read this verse a few times, and be sure you don't miss out on what this is saying!

What does it say to you about our Savior's love?

Thanks for reading....check back tomorrow for another post and check your phones too!

Have a superb Saturday.

NS19

^...."5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)"

(That's from Ephesians 2:5, NLT)

I feel like this verse could be read and focused on for the next few days. To me, it's great news to read. To know that I don't have to live by or respond to my evil desires and live a life that is dry and dead.....and that my sins committed are covered! My sinful nature/ being= covered as well! I have freedom when I live according to His grace and love!!! And it is only by His grace that I have been saved....I didn't do anything to deserve it either!

If Christ lives in you- you have life! Live like it!

Use this verse to challenge yourself. Is there anything in your life that doesn't reflect the life Jesus gave you?

Check back tomorrow for another post...check your phones too!

Have a fantastic Friday!

NS18

"4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,"

(That's from Ephesians 2:4, NLT)

Be sure to check your phones and back here on the blog tomorrow for the next verse!

Have a good Thursday!

NS17

^"3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. "

(That is from Ephesians 2:3, NLT) (The verse texted out to all was from the CEV of the Bible.)

The next few weeks worth of verses will be right out of the book of Ephesians- which is written by the same guy who wrote 1 Timothy. His name is Paul, and in this book, he writes a lot about what it means to be 'made alive in Christ', and the sort of plans that God has for our future.

( BTW-Thanks to everyone for dealing with the extreme texting shorthand! YOU ARE AWESOME if you where able to make out what the verse said!)

In this verse, it's important to understand that Paul is saying we where born sinners. It's in our nature to sin. We sin, and fail at satisfying God's justice system- leaving us with the penalty of death.

Use this verse to deepen your understanding in why we need a savior who justifies us before God.

Check back here, on the Summer Fuel Blog, for another verse tomorrow!

&Have a wonderful Wednesday!

NS16

^"17 All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen."

(That's 1 Timothy 1:17, NLT)

Over the past week, we've been reading from first Timothy. This verse wraps it up, and I couldn't think of a better way to do so!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for more!

Have a terrific Tuesday!

NS15

^"16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life."

(This is from 1 Timothy 1:16, NLT) (The verse sent out via text messaging was from the NIV of the Bible.)

**TO ALL YOU TEXTERS: Allow me to apologize for cutting that verse short. Unfortunately- our text messaging system only allows 133 characters...therefore only so much can go out at a time. Hopefully you are all 'text savvy' enough to understand what it says!

Okay. Back to 1st Timothy.

I find this verse encouraging, because it's all about God using our suffering, mistakes, weaknesses, and flaws to bring Him glory. That's what God did with Paul---He took the "worst of sinners", and used him to show other's His love, patience, strength, faithfulness, grace, and just all around goodness! But God didn't stop with Paul.....He saved you and I for that very reason as well! God wants to use our lives to tell other's about His love, His grace, and His life changing power.

When is the last time you did this?

Has God used your life as an example for others?

Can God use your life as an example of His greatness for others? (& since the answer is yes), then how?

Have a marvelous Monday!

NS14

^"15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners'

—and I am the worst of them all."

(That's from 1 Timothy 1:15, NLV)

Wow. Preach it, Paul! Read this verse again, and try dissecting it bit by bit.

"This is a trustworthy saying,"

This just complements what we already know to be %100 true words from God, as it is found in the Bible. When we read this, our minds are being reassured that what we read is true. I love worshiping a God who was and is aware of how stubborn my mind can be even while reading Scripture.

"and everyone should accept it:"

This is simple to read...simple to understand....a bit challenging to do. Keep reading...

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."

Don't miss this! Read it again. If you are a sinner, then Jesus came into the world to die for YOU. To save YOU. Because He loved YOU. YOU-- a sinner. Insane.

Oh...and not just you.Jesus came into the world to save: the rebellious, the addicts, the broken, the outcasts, the racists, the crooks, the skeptics, the gluttons, kidnappers, murderers, jerks, and liars, and the list could go on and on!

"—and I am the worst of them all."

In the King James Version of this verse, it reads,"...that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." How low is the Lord willing to go to save sinners? Who is he willing to forgive?

Here, Paul is claiming (by his own admission) to be the worst sinner of them all. I find it interesting that he doesn't say he was the worst sinner, or that he was the chief. Paul says "Of whom I AM".

-Of the people you know, whose lives have been radically transformed by Christ, like Paul?

-How has God changed your heart?

-Is this change apparent to others? & why or why not?

I pray that you ask yourselves those questions as you reflect on this verse!

Have a fantastic Sunday!

NS13

^"14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus."

(That's from 1 Timothy 1:14, NIV)

If you read more about Paul in the New Testament, you find that he is driven by this urge to share his story and God's grace with others. Paul had experienced the wonder of God's undeserved kindness...Paul had experienced God's grace!

Under God's justice- Paul was worthy of death.

Under God's grace, that is found in Jesus alone- Paul was given a New Start!

According to Romans 3:23....

Under God's justice- you are worthy of death.

According to Romans 3:24....

Under God's grace, that is found in Jesus alone- you are given a New Start!

(Or..."New Shot, New Story" if you will...)

Reflect on the grace that Jesus has given you in your life.

How has Jesus shown you "faith" &" love" in your life?

In what ways does your life proclaim God's grace?

Are you willing to share God's grace with others like Paul did?

I pray that you reflect on these verses in a real way. I pray that you let them transform you!

Have a wonderful Saturday!

*(For more on Paul and his 'grace sharing'- check out Acts 24!)

NS12

^"13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief."

(That's from 1 Timothy 1:13, NIV)

This is Paul's description of himself before Jesus saved him. He refers to himself as a "blasphemer", a "persecutor", and a "violent man". In a nut shell, Paul is a sinner. Despite all that, Jesus saved Paul. He loved Paul, forgave Paul, and used Paul in incredible ways.

Do you have a 'Paul' story?

What words would you use to describe yourself before Jesus changed your heart?

Perhaps they aren't as dramatic as "persecutor"- or maybe they are. No matter what sin we've been involved in- God's grace is still more than enough for us, and we are in no more or less desperate need of it!

Maybe take a few minutes to reflect on how awesome God's mercy is and how undeserving we truly are.

For more on Paul's story, check out Acts Chapters 7, 8, & 9.

NS 11

Today's verse starts a new 20-day section of thoughts from Paul. Paul was this guy like many of us who thought he was living life pretty good only to have God show up and change him forever. I hope as you read a verse a day from his story and his prayers for us, that you will continue to reflect on how God is changing YOU!

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service." - 1 Timothy 1:12

NS 10

Today's verse is...

¹⁹ When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.

This verse wraps up our NS Scripture from Proverbs 10:10-29. We're continuing to pray that God is helping you tell a new story with your lives as you take on this new shot at reading Scripture.

Check back tomorrow for another NS update, and thanks again for reading!

NS 9

¹⁸ He who conceals his hatred has lying lips,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

Reflect on this, and check back tomorrow. Have a great day!

NS 8

¹⁷ He who heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

Read this verse a few times and don't forget to ask yourself:

How is what I'm reading going to change my life or alter my course?
How will this challenge me in my current state of being?

NS 7

16 The wages of the righteous bring them life,
but the income of the wicked brings them punishment.

Be sure to check back tomorrow- and thanks for reading and being awesome by taking on this challenge!

NS 6

Today's verse is...

¹⁵ The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,
but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

Maybe ask yourself- "What does this really mean?"

NS 5

¹⁴ Wise men store up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

Read over this Scripture a few times, and then ask yourself how this could apply to you and your daily life.

Thanks for reading-- and don't forget to check back tomorrow for another NS up-date!

NS 4

¹³ Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

NS 3

¹² Hatred stirs up dissension,
but love covers over all wrongs.

(dis·sen·sion n.- Difference of opinion; disagreement.)

Hopefully you'll reflect on this, and think of how it can apply to your life.

Keep checking back for daily NS updates!

Thanks!

NS 2

Today's verse is...

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

Thanks for checking out the blog--We're praying that you let this verse challenge you, and don't forget to check back tomorrow for another NS update!

NS DAY 1

^{At FUEL this Sunday, we were challenged to read the Bible to change who we are. Each day between now and August 15th, we will be sending a new verse for you to reflect on and apply to your life. We're going to take a new look at Scripture as we let it change our lives. As you read the verse a few times over, practice asking these questions:
How is what I'm reading going to change my life or alter my course?
How will this challenge me in my current state of being?
You may want to journal these responses as a way of internalizing what you read!}

^{The next 10 days will be scripture found in Proverbs chapter 10:}

¹⁰ He who winks maliciously causes grief,
and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

Thanks for checking out the Summer Fuel Blog! We're praying that as you take a new shot at reading scripture God will help you tell a new story with your lives. Thanks again- and check back tomorrow for another NS up-date!