Song Devotional for May 2

In the midst of our busy lives often we need reminders to be still and know that God is God. This opportunity for you to pause in worship and remember God. The songs we are singing tomorrow are about the greatness of God and the assurance we have in Christ our Living Hope. Take ten minutes and pray through this blog proclaiming these truths.

- J.R. Nall

Happy Day
(PRAYER) Jesus, You are my living hope and because of you I am forgiven.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:3-4).

Blessed Assurance
(Prayer) Jesus, be my story and my song - make me aware of Your presence today.

I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
He has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise Him,
My father's God, and I will exalt Him. (Exodus 15:1-2)

This Is The Gift of God
(PRAYER) Lord, your grace humbles me because my forgiveness does not come out of what I have done but only from the righteousness of Christ.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast"
(Ephesians 2:8).

FBCSD Kids Ministry Begins Lighthouse Chapel

On Wednesday morning, JR and I had the opportunity to put on the very first Lighthouse Chapel. It was an awesome time as we sung songs with the kids and had some teaching time. Our word of the day was love.  Below is a video with just a few clips of our time together.

We asked the kids what they thought love meant and it was fun listening to their answers. We heard all types of responses, such as love means to give hugs, love means to treat others nicely, and more.  But most importantly, the kids learned that we all need to love God with our hearts, souls and minds, and we need to love others like we love ourselves.  Afterward, we sent the kids home with a short devotional they could do with their parents about the love of Jesus.

We had a great time and look forward to our regular Lighthouse chapels.  Please pray for us as we design additional ways to work with the Lighthouse as part of our entire church ministry, and specifically with the kids and their families.

Don't miss the chapel video posted below!

Serving His Kids,

Lyndsey Mercer
Children’s Ministry Director

PS:  Thank you to all who attended our church picnic this last weekend! We had a great time and are going to try to do it more often. There will be another picnic this Sunday, May 2nd...so make sure to bring a blanket and pack a lunch for your family. All are welcome! Hope to see you there. 

Lighthouse Chapel 

 

30 Days of Prayer and Fasting - Day 13

Friday, April 30 - Matthew 19:13-15
FBC Kids - Our Kids Ministry

Please pray today for our kids ministry at 1st B, and our Children's Director, Lyndsey Mercer.  By the way, Lyndsey is getting married in August!)

Check here again later this morning for a posting and video of our first chapel with the students at the Lighthouse Childcare Center (that's FBCSD's pre-school you see at our campus.)

FBCSD and Standely Middle School

Did you know that FBCSD's Youth Director Brandon Hall is the official Faith Club representative at Standley Middle School?  

Each Thursday, Brandon serves the students at Standley during the lunch hours, 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.  During his leadership, the Faith Club at Standley has grown from a handful of kids to now around 50 kids between the two lunch hours.  Some of these kids are now a part of FBCSD's Middle School ministry called Thrive.

The Faith Club is a student run organization that is allowed to meet on campus with a student and a faculty representative.  Each week, the clubs have lunch and fun together, Brandon does a gospel presentation and short devotion, followed by a prayer time as the students pray for each other.

Please keep this ministry in prayer.  It is a great mission field, just down the street from our church.  Every week, Brandon has the opportunity to share the gospel and minister to kids.  These kids are dealing with all sorts of things and it is often at this age (Middle School) where kids make a lifelong decision to follow Christ.

30 Day Prayer and Fasting - Day 12

Thursday, April 29 - Romans 12:2

Thrive - Our Middle School Ministry

Please pray for Youth Director Brandon Hall and our Thrive Middle School Ministry.  We hope to have a post up today or tomorrow showing you some of what God is doing in this ministry.  

Elevate - FBCSD High School Student Ministry

Thank you for praying for our High School Minsitry, we call it "Elevate." 

Gospel :: Grow :: Go

Elevate, our Wednesday night gathering (6:30 p.m.,) is relational and missional. This means that the focus is on the student’s relationship with God and others, in a way that provides a safe place for Christians and non-Christians to hear a relevant presentation of the Gospel and have a good time with each other.  Elevate meets on Sunday mornings and has retreats, camps and service projects, all intended to help students to know the "Gospel" and to "Grow" and "Go."   

One exciting aspect of our youth ministry is the “Go” aspect.  We want to challenge and equip the students in their relationship with the Lord as well as providing opportunities to live out their faith. For example, last month during Spring Break, we went downtown to God’s Extended Hand, a homeless shelter that feeds the homeless breakfast and dinner, they provide housing for moms and their children, and they provide many other services. 

We made breakfast for the homeless and served their meal.  This was a awesome opportunity to not only hear about Jesus’s heart for the poor, but to serve them as He served us and continues to do so every day.  We've served at God's Extended Hand other times as a youth group and look forward to serving again.

Here is one of our students working in the kitchen:

Thank you for your prayers!

Brandon Hall

FBCSD Youth Director

Brandon@fbcsd.com 

30 Day Prayer and Fasting - Day 11

Wednesday, April 28 - Philippians 2:15

"Elevate" - Our High School Ministry.  Pray for our Youth Director, Brandon Hall and the ministry to High School students at church and UC High and elsewhere.

We'll post something more about the youth group later today or tomorrow...

FBCSD Missionaries - Tim and Patti Long

FBCSD has supported Tim and Patti Long for several years.  Both of them serve in Mexico, not all that far from our church in a car, but a long way from the culture that many of us experience every day.

The Longs began their mission service in Baja California, Mexico, in July 1996. Invited to minister in leadership training by the Baja Baptist Convention Dios Con Nosotros (God With Us), they help in the acculturation process of the many people who relocate to the Baja Peninsula of Mexico from other areas in Mexico.

Currently, Patti serves as the special education teacher and consultant at the "Centro Pedagogico Dedaque" Baptist grade school in Tijuana. She also serves as an infant development specialist working with babies and young children with disabilities and their families. Patti teaches English at Primera Iglesia Bautista Mexicana in San Diego.

Tim works mainly with the theological education programs of the Baja Baptist Convention. He assists the director and administrator of the Dios Con Nosotros Seminary, working with extension classes in Ensenada, Tijuana, and the Mexicali Valley; with residential students at Mexicali; and in a continuing education program for pastors and church planters.

Below are a couple of short videos from Tim and Patti that will help you get a better idea of who they are and what they do.  Also, you can get more updates at the IM webpage for the longs here:

http://www.internationalministries.org/missionaries/74

Please see videos below:

About Tim Long:

About Patti Long:

30 Day Prayer and Fasting - Day 10

Tuesday, April 27 - Matthew 28:18-20

Tim and Patti Long - Mexico

Please pray for Tim and Patti and their family.  You can learn more about them at the link below.  And look for another post later today about the Longs.

http://www.internationalministries.org/missionaries/74

30 Day Prayer and Fasting - Day 9

Monday April 26 - Matthew 28:18-20

Mark and Alisha Hamblen - Ireland.  Take some time today to look at their blog and pray for them as the Lord leads you.  Also, check later today for a special post about Mark and Alisha.

http://www.irelandmission.com/

30 Day Prayer and Fasting - Day 8

Sunday, April 25 - 1 Peter 1:13-21

Are you a giving person?  Do you give joyfully or out of fear or with grudges?  What does God want you to do?  Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

30 Day Prayer and Fasting - Day 7

Saturday, April 24:  Acts 2:42-47

What are you devoted to?  What occupies your time?  Are you in fellowship?  If not, consider joining a church small group.  If one doesn’t fit your schedule, why not start your own and invite others to join you?

Join us Sunday evening, April 25, at 5:00 p.m. for a time of following and prayer and sharing what God has done for you this week.

Be ready for week 2, beginning Sunday, April 25.

30 Day Prayer and Fasting - Day 6

Friday, April 23: Romans 11:33 - 12:2

What does worshipping God entail?  Whatever came to mind, where does that teaching come from?  Does it match what God says worship is?  What is your “spiritual act of worship?”

Worship God today!

30 Day Prayer and Fasting - Day 5

Thursday, April 22:  Matthew 6:16-18

What should our attitude be when we fast?  Who’s business is this?  What is God showing me today?

30 Day Prayer and Fasting - Day 4

Wednesday, April 21: Matthew 6:5-15

What comes to mind when you read this passage about prayer?  Is it complicated?  Pray this way in your own words, in relationship to your own life and situations, as best as you can.  

30 Day Prayer and Fasting - Day 3

Tuesday, April 20:  1 John 1:5-10

How is your “walk”?  Take time today to confess sin.  God already knows what the sin is in your life, so don't hold back or try to hide or sugar coat it.   Read Hebrews 4:16.  When you approach God, what will you find?  Approach God confidently in your prayers, He loves you as a good Father loves His child.

30 Day Prayer and Fasting - Day 2

Monday, April 19:  Ephesians 4:29-32

What comes to mind when you read this passage?  Are there people you need to forgive?  How do you speak about others?  Ask God to reveal in you anything that grieves Him.   Read Philippians 1:6.    Prepare your mind for action...

Feel free to comment here...

Join us for a 30 Day Fast and Prayer

Today Begins Our 30 Day Fast and Prayer

With many challenges we face as a congregation, we are taking some time to fast and to pray together.  Each day, we'll post something or some things related to that day's fasting.  Please feel free to comment here on this blog (or if you prefer, on our Facebook page if you use Facebook.)

As we begin our time of prayer and fasting, begin this week with the simple question:  What kind of life did Jesus save me from?  Where was I headed?   Then ask, I am still headed there?  What other things do I need to do to follow Jesus?  Use the schedule below as a starting point for your day’s meditation.

This week:  Pick any day that works for you and fast.  On that day, refrain from food during the day, or something else that you would normally do if that is a better choice for you.  Each time you are reminded or tempted to eat or do whatever you are fasting from, take time to pray and acknowledge the presence of God.

We invite you to take a day in each of the next 4 weeks to fast.  However, if possible, we would like everyone to fast on Friday, May 14.  Put it on your calendar before you schedule lunch.

On the back of this sheet is a suggested schedule for some Scripture reading and thoughts to consider.  Please pray and consider these things each day and continue however the Lord leads you.

If you have Internet access, you can post thoughts and comments on our daily blog posting labeled “30 Day Fast” or on our Facebook Fan page if you have a Facebook account.  If you don’t have Internet, please consider sharing your thoughts with a friend or loved one in another manner.

Suggested Schedule for Week 1

Our desire this week is for you to reflect on your own life, your own walk with God.  We are one body of Christ, and each person in the body can grow spiritually and benefits the whole. 

Sunday, April 18:  1 Peter 1:13-16

Pray that God would prepare your mind for action.  What does it mean to “be holy” in all I do?

Monday, April 19:  Ephesians 4:29-32;

What comes to mind when you read this passage?  Are there people you need to forgive?  How do you speak about others?  Ask God to reveal in you anything that grieves Him.   Read Philippians 1:6.    Prepare your mind for action...

Tuesday, April 20:  1 John 1:5-10

How is your “walk”?  Take time today to confess sin.  God already knows what the sin is in your life.  Read Hebrews 4:16.  When you approach God, what will you find?  Approach God confidently in your prayers, He loves you as a good Father loves His child.

Wednesday, April 21: Matthew 6:5-15

What comes to mind when you read this passage about prayer?  Is it complicated?  Pray this way in your own words, in relationship to your own life and situations, as best as you can.  

Thursday, April 22:  Matthew 6:16-18

What should our attitude be when we fast?  Who’s business is this?  What is God showing me today?

Friday, April 23: Romans 11:33 - 12:2

What does worshipping God entail?  Whatever came to mind, where does that teaching come from?  Does it match what God says worship is?  What then is your “spiritual act of worship?”

Saturday, April 24:  Acts 2:42-47

What are you devoted to?  What occupies your time?  Are you in fellowship?  If not, consider joining a church small group.  If one doesn’t fit your schedule, why not start your own and invite others to join you?

Please feel free to comment by clicking the word "comments" below. 

Peace and Joy to you this day!

Setting Captives Free

This morning we heard a great testimony from Ashley about how God has changed his life and saved him for a life of alcoholism.   One of the things he mentioned was "Setting Captives Free", a free online help for people struggling with a variety of issues.

Please check out the site for a moment.  You may find their program useful for yourself or for someone you know.

www.settingcaptivesfree.com

Welcome to the Official FBCSD Blog

Welcome to the Official FBCSD Blog!

(Yes, I know, we said that in the title.)

This is the place to find out a whole lot more about the goings on 1st B.  We will include posts about happenings, but also, we'll invite you to engage on a variety of topics designed to help you grow spiritually, love your oikos, and add value to the community.  We'll have some fun with it too.

Interaction is encouraged!  Please feel free to comment on any post, start a discussion, post on your Facebook, Twitter or even your own website!  Suggestions welcome.

Please subscribe by adding your email to the subscription box above.  Please note, that box subscribes you to this blog, but does not have anything to do with our regular church email blasts with the fancy layout and stuff.  Subscribing to this blog will simply give you alerts to new posts in your email.

Blessings to you!

FBCSD