• 30 Words Daily Devotion

    I started a new devotional and wanted to share with everyone for discussion. Please read and join me. https://faithlife.com/okchope/documents/17156


    Word 1 - FAITH


    Scripture - https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Jas2.17


    “Faith in God includes faith in his direction. #30WordsBook”


    1. Rate your faith on a scale of 1–10. Be honest.
    2. What is something you’ve done recently to demonstrate your faith?
    3. Discuss examples of people throughout Scripture who have boldly expressed their faith.


    Resource - - Wilson, J. (2016). 30 words: a devotional for the rest of us. (2nd Edition, Ed.) (pp. 4–5). Bellingham, WA: Kirkdale Press.

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    Hope Church Night of Worship - Saturday, Feb 1st @ 6pm. Make sure to let us know if you can make it here - https://www.facebook.com/events/220202612338707/ https://amber.faithlife.com/shares/in05iwTjsmuWdHqf
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    1.  — Edited

      He is Worthy! If yesterday's reading didn't get you excited about the worship that will take place in our heavenly home, you're in for a treat tonight. As the apostle John continues to describe what he's experiencing, we get to the scroll. A mighty angel brings the scroll and they ask if there is anyone worthy to break the seal, open, and read it. There was no one worthy. As John was aware of the situation, this caused great sorrow. Just as quickly as he began to weep, His sorrow was turned to joy as the angel told him to stop weeping. There was someone worthy, the Lion of the tribe of Judah! Jesus had conquered all and He alone was worthy. He took the scroll, the elders and living creatures fell facedown before Him and worshiped. They had harps and bowls full of sweet fragrant incense, which was the prayers of the saints. Did you know that God loves your prayers? They are sweet to Him! Then, each of them praised Him with loud voices, “Worthy is Christ the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive great power and might, wealth and wisdom, and honor, glory, and praise!” and “Praise, honor, glory, and dominion be to God-Enthroned and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever! Amen!” So, let us join with the myriads of angels here on earth and give praise and glory and honor to His name!
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      Revelation 5:1–14New Living Translation
      Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one...
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      1.  — Edited

        Worship in Heaven I think a question that many of us have is, "what will heaven be like?" Well, look no further! Jesus shared this vision with John, who faithfully wrote it down for us. With a great level of detail, he described what he heard and saw as he was in the spirit. He heard a trumpet-voice tell him to come "up here and observe". He saw Father God on His throne and He was radiant and had the appearance of jasper, carnelian and a rainbow-like emerald. Have you seen these types of stone-crystals before? Google image search doesn't do them justice - the layers, the colors, and the beauty! This will be encircling the one who is on the throne, what a sight it will be!! Then comes additional detail, 24 elders in white robes with golden crowns. From the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder. Have you ever been in a storm and felt every strike and reverberation of thunder from deep within? Well, this is probably louder. John continues and sees seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God and then before the throne a sea of glass, like crystal. So with all the sights, the sounds, the colors, the beauty of it, I am sure that it's easy to feel a bit overwhelmed. Next, he sees four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind. One like a lion, one like an ox, one with the face of a man and the fourth like an eagle in flight. Each had six wings, full of eyes around and within and day and night never ceasing to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come". Not sure about you, but I would've been overwhelmed at all the eyes and different faces. God created everything with a purpose and theirs is worship! When these words came forth, giving God honor and glory and thanks all the elders fall down before Him and place their crowns at His feet. They say, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created." As believers, we will get to experience all of this first hand when we get to heaven. Here we get to practice! Sing to Him, serve Him with all your heart, marvel at His creation and glorify Him! He alone is worthy!
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        Revelation 4:2–11English Standard Version
        At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne...
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        1. Perfect Unity Philippians 2:1 - "We have experienced a deepening friendship with the Holy Spirit and have experienced His tender affection and comfort." Yes and Amen! This portion of scripture reminds us that the only way to live in unity is to yield to the direction of the Holy Spirit, our helper. In John 15, Jesus tells us that He is like a vine and we are like branches. As He abides in us and we abide in Him, we will bear much fruit. The passion translation says it this way, "we are in life-union with him". So, apart from Him we didn't really know or have true life. We received that upon our conversion and through our daily walk with Him. Now we, as believers, are called to be the body of Christ and we follow His lead. He emptied Himself of all His status and power to become a man and die for our sins. Even still He showed us how to live in perfect unity with the father, being obedient in everything, even to death on a cross. It's the greatest act of love! He has now been exalted to the highest place and at His name, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord bringing glory and honor to our God.
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          Philippians 2:5–11New Living Translation
          You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor ...
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          1. Philippians: 2:4-5 The Passion Translation: Abandon every display of selfness. Posses a greater a greater concern for what matters to others instead of your own interest. And consider the example that Jesus, the Anointed One, has set before us. Let His mindset become your motivation.

        2.  — Edited

          Orderly Worship When we think of worship, freedom is usually the primary thought that comes to mind. Order and guidelines are usually not our first thought. As the Apostle Paul reminds us here, everything we do should be done to build up the body of Christ, the church. If we are led by the Holy Spirit and we walk in unity, then offense will have no place in us. Paul reminds us that everything should flow according to the guidance of the Spirit. Tongues, interpretation, prophecy, discernment. All come from the Spirit and it's all for the Glory of God, not ours. As we pray for His power to fall on us as it did for the early church, we must remember to seek the Giver before the gift. We must remember that its to build up the body and to see His will be done on the earth.
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          1 Corinthians 14:26–40New Living Translation
          Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you. No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church...
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          1. 1Corinthians 14: 26-40 From the Passion Translation. Beloved friends, what does all this imply? when you conduct your meeting, you should always let everything be done to build up the church family. Whether you share a song of praise, a teaching, a divine revelation, or a tongue and interpretation, let each one contribute what strengthens other...

        3.  — Edited

          Miracles from Painful Places In what could have been absolute bottom, Paul and Silas strengthened themselves in the hope of Jesus. Even in the dark, they worshiped the Lord and all heard it. All we know of the next part is that the earthquake broke the foundations causing the prison doors to open and the chains to fall off all the prisoners. The jailor woke up and fully expected all to be lost. Ready to take his life, he heard from the dark - "Don't hurt yourself, we're all here!" It's so beautiful to see the very next moment. The only question that truly mattered, "What must I do to be saved?" It's a simple even today as Paul and Silas answered then, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved—you and all your family." The jailer and all his family were filled with joy in their newfound faith in God. Do you praise or do you grumble in your dark moments? When all hope is lost, our Living Hope reminds us that He is still on the throne and He's bigger than our problem, every time.
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          Acts 16:25–34The Passion Translation: New Testament
          Paul and Silas, undaunted, prayed in the middle of the night and sang songs of praise to God, while all the other prisoners listened to their worship. Suddenly, a great earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. All at once every prison door flung open and the chains of all the prisoners came loose. Startled, the jailer awoke and saw every cell door standing open. Assuming that all the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself when Paul shouted in the...
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            1. True Worship There is so much here in just a few short verses. I love reading this in new translations to see the text come alive in new ways. Initially, I believe the woman sought out convenience. She didn't want to continue to make multiple trips day by day, year over year. She totally missed Jesus' statement about eternal life through the Holy Spirit. It kind of reminds me how we can get so wrapped up in work or tasks that we can miss what God is wanting to show and/or give us. Even when Jesus showed the woman more of who He was, to her He was a prophet and she wanted to quiz Him. How beautiful was His answer, especially here in the TPT - “Believe me, dear woman, the time has come when you won’t worship the Father on a mountain nor in Jerusalem, but in your heart. 22 Your people don’t really know the One they worship. We Jews worship out of our experience, for it’s from the Jews that salvation is made available.23–24 From here on, worshiping the Father will not be a matter of the right place but with the right heart. For God is a Spirit, and he longs to have sincere worshipers who worship and adore him in the realm of the Spirit and in truth.” The "right heart" is so critical. How often we can some of us spend our entire lives "in church" and totally miss Him. Oh Lord, lead us back to the place where we learn and yearn to worship you with our whole heart in the realm of the Spirit and in truth.
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              John 4:13–26New Living Translation
              Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her. “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a...
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              1. He's Alive! I love reading and re-reading this story, I see something new each time. :) Unlike many of the world religions, our God is alive! He hears, He sees, and He's speaking to us and empowering us by the Holy Spirit to go and tell everyone. Have we really reached all? Have we been faithful witnesses? "Going" could look different for each of us according to what God has equipped and called us to. Is it your job, your school, the grocery store? Whatever and whenever it is, do it with all your might and all your heart. We get to share the Good News, it's truly an honor to represent Christ. If you're not a disciple that is being used to "make disciples", I encourage you to pray a bold prayer and ask God to guide you in this and give you the opportunity to do so. It'll change everything!
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                Matthew 28New Living Translation
                Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who...
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