Today’s thoughts by Julie Wicker

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

This week I will continue sharing thoughts about Paul from the Bible. Today’s key verse is about the resurrection of Christ. Deborah’s Thankful Thursday, was about Paul’s radical testimony on the road to Damascus. He spent the rest of his life making sure that he passed the baton of faith. 

The first importance of the gospel message is that Christ died for our sins. Not everyone has a radical testimony like Paul, but we do carry the radical testimony of the resurrected Jesus in our hearts. Are you living like Paul? Are you passing the baton of faith? I encourage you to evaluate ways that you are sharing the gospel message. 

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, I encourage you to visit our Steps To Peace page to learn how you can trust God with your life. If you would like more information or support, please email us at waterwalkers29@gmail.com.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for sacrificing Your son, Christ Jesus for my sins. Thank You for Paul’s radical testimony so that he could pass his baton of faith to me. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen. 

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts by Julie Wicker

This week I will continue sharing thoughts about Paul from the Bible. Take some time today to meditate on the scripture verses for the week.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭2 ‭NIV‬‬ — As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 

‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬, ‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts by Julie Wicker

This week I will continue sharing thoughts about Paul from the Bible. What worship songs come to mind when you think of Paul? 

I recently fell in love with the song, Courage featuring Brandon Lake with @seacoastmusic. I see Paul’s life throughout this song. 

Let’s walk on water through worship today.

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, I encourage you to visit our Steps To Peace page to learn how you can trust God with your life. If you would like more information or support, please email us at waterwalkers29@gmail.com.

Today’s thoughts by Deborah Ard.

Galatians 2:20-21 NIV —  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

This week I am sharing thoughts about Paul from the Bible. Today’s featured scripture, spoken by Paul, is one that perplexed me for years. I wondered what he meant about being crucified with Christ. How was I to live out being crucified for Christ? 

After studying this scripture in the context it was written, I realized Paul was writing to explain why the Jews of the time no longer needed to be held accountable to the law of the Old Testament because Jesus died to make God accessible to each of us. Being “crucified with Christ” is truly surrendering to God’s will and not insisting on my own will. What area of your life do you need to surrender to God? How will you live by faith?

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, I encourage you to visit our Steps To Peace page to learn how you can trust God with your life. If you would like more information or support, please email us at waterwalkers29@gmail.com.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts by Deborah Ard.

Acts 13:46 NIV —Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.

Acts 14:3 NIV — So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.

This week I am sharing thoughts about Paul from the Bible. It’s at this point that Saul begins going by the Gentile (non-Jewish) version of his name — Paul. He does this so that he will be more relatable and to ensure that his name doesn’t become a stumbling block. After all, Saul was known as a prosecutor of believers. 

I selected today’s featured scriptures because of the manner in which Paul and Barnabas spoke to the Gentiles. They spoke boldly. To speak boldly is to speak in a confident and courageous way; showing a willingness to take risks. 

I am amazed and inspired by Paul’s courage to speak boldly about Christ after so boldly being a prosecutor of Christ followers. I wonder if he was afraid that others would deem him unworthy? Would he be perceived as untrustworthy? However, today’s scripture confirms that he spoke boldly about Christ and by doing so he furthered the spread of the church. He is a true example of the fruit of the spirit. Paul inspires me to strive for boldness in my Christian walk. How can you be bold for Christ today?

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, I encourage you to visit our Steps To Peace page to learn how you can trust God with your life. If you would like more information or support, please email us at waterwalkers29@gmail.com.

Let’s pray. Dear God, give me courage to speak boldly and take risks for You. As scripture says in Psalms 19, may the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be pleasing to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts by Deborah Ard.

Acts 9:1-31 NIV

This week I am sharing thoughts about Paul from the Bible. Please take a moment to read today’s featured scripture.

Did you read it? Did you see how God turned around Saul’s (Paul’s) story and flipped his script? Saul was anti-Christianity. Saul was arresting and persecuting followers of The Way — believers of Christ. While on the road to Damascus, God truly stopped him in his tracks and confronted him. After being blinded and healed, Saul (Paul) became a vocal and active part of the spread of Christ’s church. 

No matter how far we believe we or our loved ones have fallen, God’s redemption is possible. Tara Leigh Cobble wrote in the Bible Recap page 665 — Saul’s story is evidence that when God wants someone, they’re His…God has the final word. Saul wasn’t pursuing God; he was actively rebelling against Him. But still, he was captured by the God of the universe and caught up in the greatest redemption story the human heart has ever known.

Guess what! God will go to the same great lengths for you and me. In fact He has already moved heaven and earth by sending His son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Jesus died so we can have eternal life. He died so that we can have a relationship with our loving Heavenly Father. For that, I am eternally thankful. How are you expressing your thankfulness to God today?

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, I encourage you to visit our Steps To Peace page to learn how you can trust God with your life. If you would like moreinformation or support, please email us at waterwalkers29@gmail.com.

Pray with me. Dear God, thank You for redeeming me. Thank You for sending Your son Jesus, Christ to die for my sins and provide a way for me to have eternal life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

Today’s thoughts by Deborah Ard.

Acts 7 NIV

This week I am sharing thoughts about Paul from the Bible. Please take a moment to read today’s featured scripture. While it is not our usual type of featured scripture, it contains the first time we learn of Saul, later called Paul. This scripture recounts the story of the disciple Stephen being stoned to death. Acts 8:1 NIV states — And Saul approved of their killing him.

I know you are thinking, What a strange way to begin today’s thoughts! However, I am laying the groundwork for what will become one of the greatest stories of redemption. I want you to see, feel, understand, how against Christianity Saul was, so you can fully understand how far God will go for you and me. More than anything, God wants a relationship with each of us. God will go to elaborate lengths to show us His love. No matter how far away from God we are, He is always ready to receive us with open arms. We just have to take the first step and walk on water. 

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, I encourage you to visit our Steps To Peace page to learn how you can trust God with your life. If you would like more information or support, please email us at waterwalkers29@gmail.com.

Let’s pray. Thank you God for redeeming me and helping me to walk on water as a believer of Christ. May all that I say and do reflect Your love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. 

@biblegateway @youversion