We can spend a lot of time, money, and energy on things that are fun but won’t matter in eternity. Just think how many things you loved or stressed over at 12 that seem trivial now.
Jesus teaches us to build our lives around what will last — His Word, His kingdom, His promises. Throughout our lives, we will have many opportunities to be involved in good things. But it’s the eternal things that will last after our time on earth ends.
As you look to the future, remember: God has a greater plan and purpose than what we can comprehend. He is a God of generations, and if we follow His lead, we’ll discover a life of meaning and purpose and leave a legacy.
Praise

• Who are the people who have invested in you spiritually?
• Does your family have a long history of following Jesus? How have you seen faith passed down from generation to generation? 
• What does it tell you about God to know that, from the beginning of time to now, He has never stopped pursuing a relationship with His people?

Repentance

• How involved is God in the decisions you’re making for the future?
• If you died today, what would you be known for? Are those the things you want to be remembered for?
• Is there anything you’ve been building or planning for the future that you know is not what God wants for you?

Ask

• Are there God-given dreams where you’re lacking clarity or guidance?
• Is there a big decision you need to make soon? Have you asked God what He would have you do?

Yield

• God has a plan for your life. His plans are good and can be trusted. Allow God to speak to you about the person He has designed, called, and equipped you to be. Write down any words or images as they come. 

If you grew up in church, there’s a good chance you heard one of two approaches to money — either that money is evil or that money is a blessing for those who believe enough. The truth is that neither presents a full, biblical view of money.
God is the owner of everything, and He distributes wealth according to His wisdom and grace. He doesn’t say that money itself is evil, but that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.
God is not a genie. He doesn’t promise to fulfill every material dream, but He does promise to give us what we need. He tells us to manage what we have well, to ask Him for what we need, and to trust Him to provide.

Praise

• How have you seen God provide for you? What can you thank Him for today?
• How have others been generous toward you? Who can you thank God for today?

Repentance

• When it comes to your finances, where are you prone to worry or striving?
• Do you struggle to be generous or to share?
• 1 Timothy 6:17 says God richly provides us with everything. Is there anything you’ve been taking for granted or feeling like you earned? 

Ask 

• God created everything and owns everything, which means He can provide anything we need. What to do you want to ask your heavenly Father for today? Go ahead, ask Him. 

Yield

• Where do you need God to speak into your finances? Is there a decision you’ve been putting off or an offering you’re considering giving? Sit for a few minutes and wait for God to speak into your financial future. 

You don’t have to look far to feel despair. Turn on the news. Spend 5 minutes on your social feed. We live in a world that’s ripe for revival.
Like Ezekiel, we’ve all stared at situations that seem impossible — the addiction, the betrayal, a barren womb, or a wayward child. Yet Ezekiel put all doubts aside and prophesied. Bones came together and filled with breath. The final vision is of a great army for the Lord.
God says He brought dry, brittle bones to life, so “you shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 37:13). What if we approached each day believing that what God did then, He can do again?

Praise

• Where have you seen God bring something dead to life? Maybe it was a relationship, a career, or a dream. 
• What did you learn about God’s faithfulness and unfailing love from that experience? 

Repentance

• Is there any situation where you’ve given up because things feel too far gone or too impossible to change? Where have you lost faith?
• How is your heart toward God? How do you deal with disappointments or despair?

Ask

• What do you want to see God revive in you?
• Where do you want to see a revival around you? Ask God to show how you can help bring revival to your home, work, or community.
• Where do you long to see revival in the church? Ask to fill His church with joy, unity, boldness, confidence, generosity — and whatever else His Spirit brings to mind.  

Yield

• Read Psalm 51, making these words your own. If a line causes your heart to skip a beat, pause and wait to hear God speak. When you get to the end, consider what God said to you. The first step in any revival is aligning what we say about ourselves with what our Father says to us.

If we’re being honest, Jesus’ directive to go into the world and preach the Gospel to all creation can feel like the Overwhelming Commission rather than the Great Commission.
Rather than focusing on how big and complex the world is, what if we focused on being Christ’s ambassadors to our world every day? No matter how big or small our world may be, we can share the good news that Jesus’ kingdom is coming. In Him, we are saved and set free!
Wherever you live, whatever you do, you can share how Jesus changed you. When we’re all doing what we can do — when we’re sharing the Gospel with those we know and praying and supporting those who go — we begin to see the world isn’t nearly as big as it seems.

Praise 

• How have you seen God work through other people to spread the good news? How did that person’s decision to live on mission affect you?
• How is the Gospel changing your family, your workplace, your neighborhood, or your school? Where are you seeing the ministry of reconciliation happening in real-time?

Repentance

• Can you think of a time when you shied away from the opportunity to share who Jesus is to you?
• What stopped you? What are the fears, doubts, or other factors that stop you from sharing what God has done? Nothing you say to God is going to surprise Him or make Him stop loving you. So take a few minutes to confess any fears and ask for His forgiveness. 

Ask 

• Ask God where, or with whom, He wants you on mission. Where does He have you in this season of life? Where do you have influence, time, and opportunity to get to know people who don’t know Jesus?
• Ask God to continue to call people into church planting and mission work. Are any names coming to mind? Is there someone the Holy Spirit might be asking you to encourage or support financially?

Yield

• Reread today’s verses and wait for the Lord to speak to you. What role does He have for you in helping the Gospel reach the ends of the earth? (Acts 1:8)

Some of life’s most significant decisions happen between the ages of 18 and 25. We pick careers and degree programs. We move away from home, maybe buy a house or meet our spouse.
The journey to maturity isn’t easy, but young adults don’t have to go at it alone. We want to help rally a generation around Jesus and each other.
We want to assist young adults understanding who they are and who God’s calling them to be. As they do, a beautiful shift occurs.
Instead of being influenced by others, they begin “speaking the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church” (Ephesians 4:15).

Praise

• Who helped, or is helping, you navigate the transition from adolescence to adulthood? What specifically are you thankful to that person for?
• Maturing doesn’t always feel good, but it produces good things in us. How has God been faithful to you as you’ve matured? What are some good things maturity has brought out in you?

Repentance

• 2 Timothy 2:22 tells us to flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteous living (NLT). Where do you find yourself drawn to immature thinking or irresponsibility? Where do you find it easy to revert back to who you were before Jesus?
• Each generation faces its own challenges. How is your attitude toward those older or younger than you? Are you quick to dismiss the Boomers or Gen Zers around you?

Ask

• What do you want to see more of in young adults at our church? Ask God to fill them with wisdom, compassion, boldness, kindness — any fruits of the Spirit that come to mind. 
• We all need spiritual mothers and fathers, those who are a life stage ahead and can help us follow Jesus. Ask God to continue to send spiritual mothers and fathers to invest in the young adults coming to Jenks Church. 

Yield

• What is God saying to you about your role in rallying a generation around Jesus and each other?  
• If you’re in your 30s or older, allow the Holy Spirit to show you if there’s someone you can invite to follow you as you follow Jesus. If so, who?

Often, when life doesn’t go as planned, we pull away from God, assuming He has abandoned us. But nothing could be farther from the truth.
Jesus promises never to leave us or forsake us. And Hebrews 4:16 encourages us to draw near to Him in our time of need.
So when we get an unexpected diagnosis, when loved ones are sick or injured, we turn to God, who made us and sustains us. We pray for healing and for miracles. We trust Him to work through science and the supernatural to do what only He can do.

Praise

• What has God healed you from in the past? Think about healing you’ve experienced physically or emotionally. 
• How have you seen God draw near to you when you or someone you love was sick? Take a few minutes to thank Him for carrying you through that season.

Repentance 

• Where do you turn first when you or a loved one is sick? Where does James encourage us to go first? 
• What do you do when someone you’re praying for seems to be getting worse, not better? Do you continue to pray? Why or why not? 
• Is there any situation in your life where you’re struggling to trust God for healing? Be honest with Him about it. He can take it.  

Ask

• Where do you need healing physically or emotionally? Draw near to the throne of grace, that you may receive mercy and find grace to help in your time of need. 
• Does anyone you know need healing from an injury or illness? Ask God to heal them, but also to show you additional ways to pray for them. 

Yield

• Healing doesn’t always come the way we expected. Is there any area where your prayers for healing could benefit from more listening than talking? What would it look like for His will to be done in that situation? (Matthew 6:10)

God created all of humanity in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). That means all of us are more alike than we are different. Everyone, of every race or ethnicity, is created by God and reflect His workmanship.
Holding a bias toward one group of people over another is a sin. We won’t overcome any "-ism" by ignoring all the unique and beautiful ways God made us.
What we need more than anything is to appreciate our differences and listen to each other’s experiences, knowing that we each have something to show the other about God.  
Our internal bond as brothers and sisters in Christ is greater than any external difference (Galatians 3:28). One day, we will all worship Jesus together — people of every tribe, nation, and tongue. And as a church, we get the unique opportunity to pursue that kind of uncommon unity right here, right now.
Praise 

• How can our differences lead us to praise God?
• What does God teach us about Himself through our differences?
• How can we move from acknowledging our differences to celebrating them?

Repentance

• Who do you spend your time with? How well do you know people of other races or ethnicities?
• Have you ever looked the other way rather than confront prejudice?
• Where might you need to confess bias toward another person or group? 

Ask

• When’s the last time you grieved with someone over injustice? Ask God to show you the things that break His heart. 
• Where do you see the consequences of prejudice or racism? Ask God to bring healing where there has been hurt, to bring reconciliation where there has been division, and to give each of us the boldness to go deeper with people who are not like us. 

Yield 

• What would “uncommon unity” look like in your neighborhood, workplace, and/or small group?
• Are you willing to let God make you an instrument of healing? Give yourself time to listen as the Holy Spirit shows steps you can take this week to bring reconciliation to your spheres of influence. 

Who would you be without your friends? No, really. Think about it for a second.
Who are the friends who shaped how you see the world? The ones who helped you decided what was right or wrong, cute or not cute. The people you called in a crisis or a break-up. The people who will take your kids for the day or help you move.
Ecclesiastes reminds us, “Two are better than one...” We need friends who are friends with God to help us find our way. And not only do we need those people, but we also need to be those people for others.

Praise

• What are some ways your close friends reflect God’s character? 
• How has your life been made richer or fuller through the relationships God has brought into your life?
• What are some ways God has been a good friend to you? What has His friendship taught you about friendship?

Repentance

• What’s one area where you know you haven’t been a great friend? 
• Is there any unresolved conflict between you and your friends?

Ask

• What do you want to see God grow in you so you can be a better friend?
• What do you want to see God do in your friends’ lives?
• Who was the last person who made you feel fully known? Ask God to continue to grow your existing friendships and/or bring you new ones.   

Yield

• What if what we want for our friends isn’t what God wants for them? Ask God what He wants for you and your friends. Then, sit quietly and wait for Him to speak. 

God created work, and He cares about your work. Whether you work in your home, in an office, or by going to school, there’s a plan and purpose behind your work.
The people you sit next to or labor alongside, the teachers you’re assigned, the customers who walk through your doors — each will learn something about God from you because God’s Spirit lives in you.
Our faith is meant to affect every part of every day. As it does, we experience a change in our attitude toward our coworkers and the work itself. We’re no longer working for the weekend or trying to get ahead. Instead, every day becomes an opportunity to serve God and see His kingdom come.
Praise

• When the last time you thanked God for the ability to go to work or school?
• What is God showing you about yourself and about Him through this opportunity or season?
• How have you seen God show up for you this year in your workplace or classroom?

Repentance

• Does your job or degree program hold an appropriate amount of value in your life? Do you find more of your identity in what you do or who God says you are?
• How’s your attitude at work/school? Would you say you’re working wholeheartedly? Would others say the same?
• Think about your interactions at work or school this week. How are you doing when it comes to speaking graciously and doing “all that you can to live in peace with everyone”?

Ask

• Is there anything you’re stressed about or anyone you’re at odds with? Ask God to equip you for any difficulties awaiting you when you get to work or school. 
• What do you want to see God do in your school or workplace? Talk to Him about it. 

Yield

• You may have dreams and desires for your work, but remember, God has dreams and desires for you. Take a few moments and let God speak to you about who He has called you to be in your workplace or school. 

God did not design us to go through life alone. Adam had Eve. Jesus had the disciples, and the early church had each other.
We can learn a lot about God from His Word, and we can experience His presence wherever we are. But some things can only be experienced when we gather.

Sunday gatherings are a time to be encouraged, to give faith and to receive faith, to pray for one another, and to remind ourselves what’s true. When we gather as a family, we slow down and settle our hearts, making space to receive healing and a greater view of Jesus.

Even though our gatherings are a little different these days, we still gather in spirit. It won't be long until we are together again, so start praying now for God to move in our weekly times together.

Praise

• What do you love about the Sunday gathering? 
• How has your understanding of God grown through gathering with others?

Repentance

• What do you need to surrender to hear God more clearly this Sunday?
• Do you show up ready to hear what God has for you on Sundays? Are you open to the people around you that may need some prayer, a hug, or a smile? 
• What, if anything, needs to change so you can experience all the benefits of gathering on Sundays?

Ask

• Ask God to continue to guide our worship leaders, teaching team, and pastors as they plan and prepare for Sunday gatherings. 
• Ask God to increase the spiritual temperature on our church. 

Yield

• What is God saying to you about your next step when it comes to the Sunday gathering?

In Matthew 9:14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 
Jesus wants to connect with kids just as much as He wants to connect with us. In fact, there’s a lot we can learn from kids about faith when we welcome them as Jesus did.
The Factory exists so kids can experience Jesus on their level. In The Factory, children from birth through fifth grade come to a safe environment with age-appropriate, creative, and fun Bible teaching. It’s a place where relationships with other kids and leaders can be established.
The goal is that kids would be engaged, have fun, and be excited about church. By making a space for kids, we’re making a way for kids to come to know all the reason we love God and He loves them.  
Praise 

• Each week, volunteers sing, dance, play, and teach kids about Jesus. Who are some of the people who invested in you as a kid? Thank God for them. 
• What are some reasons you can be thankful for The Factory? If you have kids, ask them what they are thankful for. If you don’t have kids, think about how The Factory is influencing kids in our church or families you know. 
• How does it feel to know that God loves and welcomes kids? What does that tell you about His character?

Repentance

• When you think of kids, your own or someone else’s, what comes to mind? Do you get stressed and annoyed, or do you find yourself smiling and filled with love?
• Is there anything about your attitude toward kids that needs to change to align with Jesus’ heart for kids?
• What’s been your experience with The Factory? Is there anyone in The Factory that you need to forgive or ask forgiveness from?

Ask

• It takes dozens of adults every week to make The Factory happen. Ask God to call adults into our children’s ministry. Ask Him specifically if The Factory is what’s next for you. 
• How might your community look different if more people knew Jesus and started following Him as children? Ask God to bring kids to a saving understanding of who Jesus is through the lessons they experience in The Factory. 

Yield

• Who are the kids in your life? Whether you birthed them, adopted them, or love them as your own, when’s the last time you asked God what He would have you pray for your kids? Before they were “ours,” they were His. Sit for a minute and wait for the Lord to speak to you about the kids you love. 

Did you know the God who created the universe cares deeply about your individual needs as well as the collective needs of our church?
Psalm 50:10 describes God as owning the cattle on a thousand hills. In other words, God owns everything. So if we need something, all we need to do is ask.
When we’re overwhelmed by the needs of people around us, we remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 9 and ask the Lord to send out workers into his harvest field. When we’re worried about money, we remember Jesus’ promise in Matthew 6 that if God clothes the grass, he will also take care of us.
God will never run out or get run down. We can’t exhaust His generosity because generous is who He is.

Praise 

• Where have you seen God increase your life this year? Have you experienced growth relationally, spiritually, financially, or emotionally?  
• How have you seen God fulfill a specific need?
• Where have you seen God grow our church this year? What answered prayers can you celebrate and thank God for?

Repentance

• Before asking for increase in any area of life, examine you’re stewarding what you’ve already been given. Where have you been a good steward? Where does your stewardship need to be stretched?
• Are you lacking contentment in any area of life? What’s driving it?
• Is there any area of your life where you’re making your own increase? What would it look like for you to commit to trusting Him instead of trying to do things on your own?

Ask

• What are the ministry needs in our church? Ask God to send more group leaders, Sunday volunteers, and youth volunteers, so more people can connect to Jesus and each other. 
• What are the financial needs at our church? Ask God to provide for that need, no matter how big or small.

Yield
Spend a few minutes listening to where God wants to increase you this year.

• Is He prompting you to serve?
• Is He prompting you to tithe regularly?
• Is He wanting to grow your group?

In Exodus 6, God promises to save Israel from slavery. He promises to free them and redeem them, to make them His people and bring them into a new land. So many years later, we read the rest of the Old Testament and see God was faithful to keep His promises.
God is extending the same promises to us today. He wants us to save us from sin, free us from the past, fill our lives with purpose, and make us His family. These promises are on offer to anyone who will take Him up on them.

As you pray today, think about what these promises mean to you as well as to your family, your school, your neighborhood, your workplace. What would it look like for the people closest to you to also be saved, freed, filled with purpose, and brought into His family?

Praise

• When’s the last time you thanked God for saving you? Think about what it cost Him and all the ways your life has changed since you started a relationship with Jesus. 
• What has God set you free from? 
• How has knowing God and understanding the unique way He’s gifted you given your life meaning and purpose?
• What are some benefits and rights you now hold as a member of His family?

Repentance

• 2 Corinthians 1:20 says that every promise of God is ours through Jesus. Are there any promises you’re leaving on the table?
• Are there areas of your life where you’ve given up on experiencing freedom?
• Are there any promises you’ve given up on believing? 

Ask

• Ask God, “What is my next step? Which promises do I need to believe?”
• Who do you know who needs to step into these promises? Take a few minutes to ask God to show that person that He is trustworthy, and His promises are true. 

Yield

• Try reading Exodus 6:6-8 again, but make it personal this time. Insert your name in place of “the Israelites.” Insert your bondage in place of “the Egyptians.” Replace “the land” with that promise you struggle to believe. 
• How does hearing God’s words addressed to you change your understanding of who He is to you? 

We don’t think twice when someone asks us to pray for them. Yet when it comes to praying for ourselves, we don’t always take that same stance.
Instead, we buy this lie that praying for ourselves is rude or selfish. We worry God will see us as needy or laugh at our dreams. We treat Him like He’s one of us when nothing could be farther from the truth.

It is not selfish to pray for yourself. Praying for yourself is part of being fully surrendered and obedient to God. How can we know God if we don’t talk with Him about what matters to us?

God is a loving Father who wants to hear from His children. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” No thought is too small or insignificant to bring to Him.

Praise

• How does it feel to know that you can talk to God about anything?
• How have you seen God meet needs big and small? Thank God for how He’s demonstrated His care and concern for all aspects of your life. 

Repentance

• Have any areas of your life been off-limits to God?
• Is there anything weighing you down that you don’t feel comfortable bringing to God? What is holding you back from praying about it? 
• Are there any lies you’ve believed about what prayer should be that are stopping you from experience what prayer can be? 

Ask

• What’s one practical, tangible way you need God’s help today? Consider what was on your mind when you opened this entry or what’s on your calendar for later. 
• Are there burdens you’re carrying relationally, financially, or emotionally? What do you need in each of those areas?

Yield

• One of the gifts that can come from complete honesty with God is complete intimacy with God. Take a moment to pray Psalm 139:23-24 out loud. Embrace the stillness as you wait for God to respond. 

No two families are identical, yet our heavenly Father had His hand in creating each and every one. Family was God’s design. Just as He created each of us, He created the people we were born to and the siblings and extended family that surround us.
Some days, when everyone is getting along, family feels like a blessing. Other days, it feels like an immense challenge. For some, our families are our safe place. For others, our families are our mission field.
No one ever said loving others would be easy, but the Bible does promise it will be worth it. As we stretch ourselves to love our families well, our lives start to look more like our Savior’s (Philippians 2:1-11).

Praise

• What are some reasons you can thank God for your family? 
• How has being brought into this family, at this point in time, brought good into your life?
• What do you appreciate about God’s design for family? What has it taught you about His character and values?

Repentance

• No human is perfect, which means no family is perfect. Is there anyone in your family you need to forgive or ask forgiveness from?
• As you read today’s verses about family, was there any point where you felt challenged or convicted?
• How does your understanding of family align with God’s design for family? What, if anything, do you need to let go of to do what He’s called you to?

Ask

• What do you want to see God do in your immediate and extended family? Does anyone need healing, direction, or a relationship with Jesus?
• We can love and serve and advise our families, but only God can access their hearts. Where do you see an opportunity for your family members to grow spiritually or emotionally?

Yield

• What role does God want you to play in your family? Too often, we jump into who we think we should be without asking God, “Why do you have me in this family?” 

The same way the early church was spread across countries and cultures, Jenks Church is part of a Christian community that partners with churches all over Tulsa, Oklahoma, the country and even around the world. And while we all are working for the same goal, it’s not unusual to have a special affection for those we labor with and worship alongside every week.
When you’ve prayed, believed, served, sweated, and celebrated together, you develop a love and trust for one another. That’s the bond Paul shared with the church in Philippi, and it’s the kinship we experience with the people at Jenks Church every Sunday.

Praise

• What do you see God doing in our church that is unique or different from years’ past?
• Who makes coming to church special for you? Thank God for the names and faces that come to mind.
• Whose partnership in the Gospel are you thankful for today?

Repentance

• How do you feel about the people you attend church with each week? 
• Is there anyone in our church you need to forgive or extend grace to?
• Is there anyone in our church you need to ask forgiveness from?

Ask

• What do you want to see God do in our church this year? 
• What does our church need to further its dreams for your city?
• Not sure where to start? Reread Paul’s prayer for his friends in Philippians 1:9-11. How might you pray this in your own words?

Yield 

• Is there anything you’re longing to hear from God on behalf of your group or serving team?
• Sit a moment longer. What do you feel the Spirit saying to you as you think about our church family? 

The kingdom of God is everywhere. Psalm 103:19 says, “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.”
In a more personal way, we buy into His kingdom by accepting Jesus’ payment for our sins. As we receive the Gospel personally and let it change us from the inside out, the Holy Spirit works through us to bring glimpses of heaven’s perfection to Earth. Like the disciples who healed the sick and proclaimed the Gospel, we get to be part of bringing the promises of heaven to Earth (Matthew 4:23, Matthew 28:16-20).
Living in light of the kingdom — Jesus’ forever rule over creation — gives us an eternal hope. It allows us to stop being satisfied with what we see and start believing what can be.
Praise

• What’s one place where you see glimpses of God’s kingdom on earth?
• When you think about the future Jesus promises, what affections does it stir in you?
• Where do you see God righting the wrongs of a fallen world? Have you been the beneficiary of a miracle or seen Jesus change someone’s life?

Repentance

• Is there any area of your life where you’ve been settling for less than Jesus has for you?
• Are you content to go your own way rather than trust in His kingdom to come?
• Where do you need to start trusting God’s plan over your own? Where have you sought your own agenda instead of having a kingdom mentality?

Ask

• Where do long to see more of heaven on Earth? Ask the Lord to bring His kingdom in your city, state, nation, and the world.
• Where do you see brokenness in your family or community? Ask God to bring healing, intervention, and lasting change. Ask Him where you can partner with Him in bringing that change.

Yield

• Pause and allow the Lord to speak to you about your role in bringing good to the world around you. Try sitting with your hands open, signaling your willingness to say, “Here I am Lord, send me” (Isaiah 6:8).

God puts leaders over us for our benefit, and their decisions can significantly impact our circumstances. This is one reason the Bible tells us to pray for those in authority over us from our parents and pastors to our employers and government officials.
Even if we don’t like or disagree with the leaders in our lives, we can still pray for them. We pray for them to have the wisdom and strength to obey God and lead us well.
When those in authority are obeying God’s will, it’s much easier for us to live peaceful and quiet lives. When they are not obeying God, we pray for their salvation and God’s guidance in their choices, as well as for protection from spiritual warfare.
Praise

• Have you experienced the blessing of being under a good leader? What are some ways that person’s leadership reflected God’s character and leadership?
• Who are the wise people in authority over you now? How would your life be different without their leadership? Consider how their counsel has helped you, and thank God for putting them in those positions. 

Repentance

• We can all take good leaders for granted. Do you forget to pray for your leaders if things are going well for you?
• How do you respond to your leaders when life is difficult? Is there anything you need to change in how you react to immature, chaotic, or new leadership?
• Do you ever refuse to pray for someone in charge because you dislike their personality or politics? How do you think God feels about that attitude?

Ask

• What kind of leader do you want to serve under? Ask God to give those characteristics to the people over you.
• Are there big decisions facing your church, your school, your work, or the country? Ask God to give wisdom and discernment to the leaders who will be making those calls. 

Yield

•  What, if anything, challenged you today as you prayed for your leaders? Allow God to speak to you about your heart toward your leaders, and to reveal anything else He wants you to pray for them. 

You may have noticed that each generation likes to blame other generations for problems. Older people often look critically upon younger generations for doing things differently. Younger people often get frustrated with older generations for not being more progressive.
But God is clear that every demographic is precious to him. We are as much His beloved children at 16 as we are at 60. And we have as much purpose in our 80s as we did in our 20s.
Psalm 145:4 instructs those who are older to tell of God’s awesome works and mighty acts to those who are younger. At every age and stage, let’s encourage and build the faith of those coming behind us by sharing how we have seen God at work through the years.
Praise

• How has God shown Himself to you in different seasons of life? Praise Him for His faithfulness.
• What were your hopes, dreams, fears, and insecurities 5, 10, or 15 years ago? Consider how God has protected you through the years.
• Who are the young people God has placed in your life? Thank God for their unique personalities and the way they reflect His character in the world.

Repentance

• Notice how you speak to and about students. Do you catch yourself complaining or holding negative or misguided toward another generation?
• What might you need to repent of in relation to the way you treat people younger or older than you?

Ask

• What do you hope to see God do in The 99 in 2020? Put those dreams and desires before God and ask Him to bring them to fruition.
• Jeremiah and Timothy both felt like they were too young to make a difference or do what God had called them to. Do you feel (or have you ever felt) that way? Ask God to give students the boldness to live for Him.
• We all need spiritual mothers and fathers to show us how to love God and live the life He has for us. Ask God to call mature believers into student ministry. Ask Him how you can serve our students.

Yield                                                                                

• Reread today’s verses paying special attention to the relationship between generations. Allow God to show you where you fit in the generational ministry of our church.

Thinking of the church as a family gets complicated. Baggage from biological relationships and past religious experiences can cloud our understanding of what God intends a church family to be. But the Bible paints an extraordinary picture of who we are together.
The people of God are the church, a dwelling place for God. We’re like a body, connected by bones, joints, marrow, blood vessels, and more. Like a biological family, we don’t get to choose who’s in the church family with us. God is creating this structure; He’s designed this body. Over time, throughout history, in every language, nationality, and continent.
Despite our differences, we are called to be unified. So when one person suffers, the others feel it. When one person rejoices, others are lifted up. Each member of the church is integral to the next.
Praise

• Is there anyone in the church you can’t imagine this journey without? Thank God for them and the joy they bring.
• Who in the church do you struggle to understand, but you know God has placed them alongside you for a reason? Thank God for that person and His purposes in both your lives.

Repentance

• Has anyone in the church offended or annoyed you? Maybe a leader you disagree with or a volunteer who’s too outspoken? Think of one way you can seek unity with this person.
• How could you ask forgiveness for the part you played in the conflict?

Ask

• Are there relational needs you long to see fulfilled in the church? If so, ask God to bring those relationships to fruition. Ask Him to give you courage as you step out in faith to connect with a church family.
• Is anyone in your church family in need? Pray for them, and ask God if there’s a way you can fulfill their need.

Yield

• Does the idea of church family confuse or bother you? Allow God to reveal where those feelings come from and to bring clarity and peace to your heart.
• Has a wound or relationship from your past made connecting with your church family difficult? Ask God to intervene and reveal your next step.

Read:  Luke 11:1-13, Mark 11:24
If you’ve ever been intimidated by prayer, you’re not alone. We want the peace, power, and confidence that comes from talking to God. But we often don’t know where to start or what to say.
Jesus’ disciples experienced the same emotions, and in Luke 11, they ask Jesus to teach them to pray. In the verses that follow, Jesus gives us a helpful model for how to talk to God.
Praise God for who He is and what He’s done. Repent of where we’ve fallen short. Ask for what we need. Yield to His will and hear what He has to say.
Praise, repent, ask, yield.
Or for an easy way to remember it: PRAY.
Praise

• What do you love about God?
• What are some ways God is good at being God?
• What are you thankful for today?

Repentance

• Is there any area of your life where you’re withholding forgiveness?
• Is there any area of your life where you need forgiveness?
• Is there any area of your life where you’re lacking faith or wondering if God really is good? If so, take a few minutes to tell Him how you feel. It’s OK. He can take it.

Ask

• What do you need as you walk into your day?
• Is there any area where you lack love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, or self-control? This is the time to ask God for what you need.

Yield

• What do you need to hear from God today?
• Pause for a minute. What do you feel the Spirit saying to you as you sit in stillness?

What do you do when the happiest season of all doesn’t seem happy at all?

Whether it’s a scary medical diagnosis, the loss of a relationship or death of someone you love, a traumatic season of life can make the holidays feel overwhelming. Decorating, shopping, and house guests might be more than you can handle this year. Before you decide to pull the covers over your head and wake up in January or start your day with eggnog—stop! You are not alone.    
3 Steps to Survive the Holidays Without Losing Your Mind  
1. Say what you need to say. 
It’s a temptation for many of us, especially when cool weather hits, to spend a lot of time at home, alone. Maybe you’re facing crushing circumstances right now all by yourself. The problem with isolation comes when the little voice starts whispering in your head. The lying, conniving voice telling you, “Nobody understands. Life will always be this painful. Nobody cares about you.” Don’t believe the lies.

The sooner you ask for help and admit you need other people, the sooner you will find relief. To connect with someone who can help, contact the church office or meet with one of our shepherds or care team after a Sunday service.

2. Make a plan.  
Don’t let the holidays sneak up on you. Consider doing things a little differently this year. Plan a time to talk with those closest to you about creating a strategy for the holidays. For example, this year will be the first Christmas for a dear friend since the death of her dad. She and her mom are discussing their strategy, which might include a few days in the Caribbean.
Would a change in location, menu, or traditions be helpful this year? If the thought of decorating, entertaining, or gift buying is making you hyperventilate, it’s OK to bring it all down a notch. Do whatever works for you.

3. Be still. 
Tomorrow morning, rather than hitting the ground running, would you take a few moments to be still? Wake up 15 minutes early, find a quiet cozy place away from the noise and chaos, and spend the first precious moments of your day with the Lord.
Psalm 34:18  promises, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” You can know His indescribable peace when you invite Him in.

Human beings are attracted to beauty. We aspire to attain it, and once we think we have it, we fight to hold on to it.

The standards of beauty, however, are fleeting. Often what we expended a great deal of effort to embody and possess is no longer in fashion and loses its allure. Even Christians are not immune to the temptation to waste time pursuing beauty that is vain and elusive.

What we often fail to realize is that we already possess beauty in an unlikely place, our feet. Romans 10:15 says, “And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? … How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Our feet are beautiful when they provide the support and mobility that enables us to share the best news anyone can proclaim, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Christmas season is a phenomenal opportunity to help people find the beauty for which we all hunger. We have an invitation to join the angelic chorus and proclaim, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10). Beauty embodies the one who brings the message of salvation, peace, and joy through our Lord Jesus Christ. Beauty is found in what is said, not what is seen.

This Christmas, let’s use our beautiful feet to carry this good news into our own worlds. It is Jesus who sets the captive free, brings good news to the poor, sight to the blind and God’s favor to the earth (Luke 4:18-19). What a joyful message for the whole world!

Reflect

• Are there people you know who need to hear the good news of Jesus? Ask the Lord for the opportunity to share it with them.
• Are you focusing on the wrong kind of beauty? What do you think can help you change your focus?
• Sometimes the busy pace of the Christmas season can rob us of our time with Jesus, leaving us less joyful and peaceful than we otherwise would be. What are some ways you can adjust your schedule to protect your time with the Lord?

Close your eyes and picture the perfect Christmas. The smell of fresh-baked goods filling the house. The tree glistening with perfectly hung lights and a fire crackling as the kids play with new toys.

We start December with high expectations, but all too often our quest for the picture-perfect day leaves us frazzled and stressed. The Christmas season becomes flooded with anything but joy as we race to find the perfect gift and open our homes to family, in-laws, and friends.
This year can be different! Follow these two simple steps, and you can finally have the best Christmas ever.

How to Have the Best Christmas Ever
1. Make the main thing the main thing.
The best way to avoid turning into the Grinch this Christmas is to remember the point of the holiday. Christmas isn’t a task to complete or a burden to endure, it is a celebration of Jesus coming to Earth. John 3:16 says God loved us so much He sent His Son to make a way for us to have a relationship with Him.

The same way that a wedding is still a wedding with or without the pomp and circumstance, Christmas is still Christmas if we never open a gift or put lights on a tree. In both cases, the person, not the party, makes the day complete.

So don’t let the stress of making a list and checking it twice distract you from who the day is really all about. Jesus is God with us and the ultimate gift.

2. Choose peace over chaos.
In a letter to the church in Colossae, the apostle Paul wrote about what it looked like to be alive in Jesus. He instructs the Colossians to, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15). This instruction is true for us today. We are called to live in peace, looking at our lives with thanks for what we have instead of complaining about what we don’t have.

When we remember who our heavenly Father is, we realize we have nothing to fear. The same God who made the heavens and the earth tells us to call Him, "Dad." He is a good dad who doesn't let His kids go without.

"Look at the birds of the air," Jesus tells His followers. "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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" (Matthew 6:25-34).  

Real lasting peace comes from knowing whose we are. Spending time with God, remembering the sacrifice Jesus made for us, the stress of life slowly fades away. The chaos of the holidays is put into context.

So put down the cookie cutters, step away from the gift wrap, and rest in God’s peace. Your house may not smell like fresh-baked goods and your tree may not sparkle, but seeking Jesus and His peace this holiday season will ensure you to have the best Christmas ever.

By the time Christmas arrives each year, I've already been counting down for weeks. The lights, the sounds, the songs, the hustle and bustle, the beautiful packages, the fresh baked cookies — I love it all!

As the pace around us quickens, we can almost feel the anticipation in the crisp cold air. The culmination of all our merrymaking is coming with the celebration of Jesus’ birth.  
If you’re like me, it can be easy to get wrapped up in the busyness of the season. But as a parent, I have to grab hold of every opportunity to share why we celebrate Christmas. In parenting, traditions help us teach our children who they are as part of our family as well as who they are in God’s family.

Traditions reinforce our most fundamental values. That's why traditions are important any time of year, but especially around Christmas. Children gain a sense of security and belonging as they experience traditions. And it’s through traditions that our faith has been shared from generation to generation. Psalm 145:4 reminds us that God is worthy of praise every day, and it’s our role as adults to share God’s great works from one generation to the next.

Traditions don’t have to be grand. It’s the meaning behind them and the togetherness that makes them special. If you’d like to start family traditions or add new ones, here are some ideas to get you started.

Four Christmas Traditions to Start This Year
1. Read the story of Jesus’ birth together as a family.
The story of Jesus’ birth is found in Luke 2:1-20. Whether you choose to snuggle up by a cozy fire, read a different part at bedtime each evening, or take turns reading over breakfast, reading the Christmas story draws us closer to Jesus by reminding us that He came to us.

2. Give a deeper meaning to gift giving.
A few years back, we started the tradition of giving our kids four gifts. "Something you wear. Something you read. Something you want. Something you need."
It's has been a lot of fun to watch as they learn to value and appreciate receiving the things they need and wear as much as the things they read (our girls love books) and want.

Something you wear - It can be anything from a new coat or boots to a fun shirt or even a fancy dress (again we have girls).
Something you read - Reading is the best gift you can give your kids in my opinion. It cultivates creativity and imagination, it tells amazing stories (both fiction and nonfiction), and it opens up a world bigger than anything they currently know.
Something you want - Really?!?!? I think this is a pretty easy one!
Something you need - You can be pretty creative with this one. Maybe clothes or bedding, or something they need for a sport they are involved in or other activity. As long as it's a need...it works.

3. Do something unique and fun.
Some of our favorite family traditions are the simple ones. It doesn’t matter that they’re simple. They’re ours and that makes them special.
Whether it’s baking Jesus a birthday cake, caroling in the neighborhood, drinking hot chocolate, or taking a late night drive to see Christmas lights, simple things build the foundation of a healthy well-rounded childhood. Include your children in the planning of some simple and fun new traditions this year, and watch their faces shine!

4. Attend a Christmas service together as a family.
Attending church together is a tradition that goes far beyond the holiday season, but there’s something extra special about Christmas services. This gives everyone in our family time to pause and reflect on the goodness of God. God gave us His one and only son, Jesus, to be our Savior.
There’s no better time to start attending church as a family than this Christmas. Christmas services at Jenks Church are special and something you’ll be talking about for years to come!