By Cindy Starr 

What do we believe?

Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing from God and parents bear the primary responsibility of training them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord 

Why do we believe this?

Deuteronomy 6:7 –“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

Why does it matter?

This is a profound commandment both for its breadth and intensity. There is nothing more vital, more earnest, and more transforming than the diligent teaching of God’s Word. The definition of diligent is constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything; done or pursued with persevering attention. A synonym would be painstaking. Parents are to be constant, attentive, persistent and persevering in their teaching of God’s truths to their children. With painstaking and arduous passion they are to tell and re-tell God’s Word and its application. Quite frankly, given the frenetic nature of our times and the overload of sensory stimulation, it is a wonder that we do anything with painstaking passion! This is the battle of our times – to remain intent on the goal; to focus on the task set before us; to discern distraction and remain undeterred. Knowledge produces conviction produces affection – we teach the truth so that the heart is ignited by the truth and in this igniting, the heart is constrained to obey with joy.

Here is a video from the the Songhai team.

By Stuart Borders

What do we believe?

Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing from God and parents bear the primary responsibility of training them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Why do we believe this?

Psalm 139:13-16 – For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Why does it matter?

Before there were days, God knew every day that you would live and had a plan & purpose for each one of them.  That should excite us beyond belief.  This passage reminds us that God is both intimate and infinite.

God is intimate in the very creation of every person from the very moment of conception.  He already knows the child’s name and purpose in life.  Scripture is very clear here that God sees a person even as an “unformed substance” while their frame is hidden from others, including the expectant parents.  God forms each of us and considers us “wonderfully made.” He is intimate in the way He knits us together.

God is infinite in that He has written every one of our days in His book even when days didn’t exist.  He demonstrates His power in creating each one of us.  Not only does He know every day, but He provides purpose to those days.  He is able to look past each person’s intimate story and purpose to see how each one forms a greater story of His greatness.

How will you treasure God’s creation of life today?  How will you speak up for those who don’t have a voice yet?

By Matt Haste

What do we believe?

Husbands are called to love and lead their wives as Christ loved the Church.  Wives are called to respect and submit to their husbands as the Church submits to Jesus.

Why do we believe this?

Ephesians 5:21-31 – submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.  Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 

Why does it matter?

Marriage works best when husbands and wives live out their God-given roles in the relationship. These roles and this relationship are designed by God to tell a story to the world. Ephesians 5 explains how this happens.

Marriage is meant to be a divine drama that illustrates the love of Jesus for his people. Husbands, you are to love your wife as Christ has loved his Church: forgetting yourself, preferring her needs and desires above your own, and seeking to lead her in holiness and love. Wives, you are called to love your husband as the Church submits to Jesus: respecting his authority, honoring his leadership, and seeking to be a faithful helper to him. This relationship is at its finest when each of you submit to one another (and to your God-given roles) out of reverence for Christ. You do this by putting your spouse’s needs and desires above your own.

When considered in this way, marriage takes on a much greater significance. The very name of God and the integrity of the Gospel hang in the balance as couples live out their days together. This is a great responsibility and also a tremendous blessing. Does your marriage reflect God’s love for His people? How would it look differently if you viewed your marriage in this way?

Monday by Dennis Strom

What do we believe?

We believe that God has ordained marriage to be the union of one man and one woman in a life long covenant, as they submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Why do we believe this?

Genesis 2:24 – Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Why does it matter?

As we look back to the beginning of mankind, God had a perfect plan for His creation. God knew what would be best for His creation and He knew what would not work as well. God chose there to be one man and one woman in that first relationship of marriage. God is sovereign, He is all knowing and He does not make mistakes. The Scriptures are clear in identifying the relationship of marriage and the life long covenant it is to represent.

Jesus is quoted in Mark 10:7-10 as saying “But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” We see it in the Old Testament (Genesis 2:24) and in the New Testament (Mark 10:7-10); God is faithful and He does not change. His Plan is perfect and it includes one man and one woman in a lifelong covenant as they submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Think about the privilege and blessing the marriage relationship is – a lifelong companion, a best friend, a helper provided just for you by God !

Be in prayer today for Pastor Jason as he brings a message to us.  This is his first message back from vacation, those are always powerful:)

By Bill Starr

What do we believe?

We believe that a Christian is called to do everything to the glory of God, to make disciples of all nations, to pursue love and do good to everyone, to be a faithful steward of all that God has entrusted to him/her, and to obey the Word of God in all matters of faith and life.

Why do we believe this?

1 Peter 4:11 – whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Why does it matter?

In this text Peter is talking about spiritual gifts.  There are two kinds of gifts – speaking gifts and serving gifts. If you have a gift of speaking, Peter exhorts us to that when we open our mouth to speak; we need to speak the word of God. We are to speak God’s truth, not our own ideas. The emphasis is on using your speaking gift to declare the Word of God. If you have serving gift, you are to exercise it by the strength which God supplies. You must be energized by the Holy Spirit, walking in the Spirit so you are not serving in the power of the flesh.

Look at the intention of having these gifts – it is to bring glory to God. What then is the intention of all that we do? What is the intention of our holiness, the intention of our love, and the intention of our service? That God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. Remember I Corinthians 10:31 echoes these same thoughts when Paul tells us that “whatever I do whether I eat or drink, I want to do all to the glory of God!”

Think about it – everything I do, from the significant to the insignificant is to be done with excellence so that God can receive the glory. All glory and dominion belongs to Jesus and I honor him when I carry out my life in a manner that exalts him. To do big, important things with excellence is not very difficult.  The difficulty is in making sure that I am doing them to bring glory to God and not to myself. As an example, do you plan your daughter’s wedding so it honors you as a great parent and event planner or do you plan it so God gets the glory?

To do all things, even the routine things, with an eye to magnifying and exalting the name of Jesus is not so easy. How do I get up in the morning in a way that brings glory to God? How do I interact with my neighbors in a way that brings glory to God? Cut the grass? Wash the clothes? Work at my job? Participate in Worship on Sunday morning? Discipline my children?

The text tells us that Jesus is owed all glory forever and ever. What can you do today to honor him in some of the mundane areas of life?

By Jeff Carlisle

What do we believe?

We believe that a Christian is called to do everything to the glory of God, to make disciples of all nations, to pursue love and do good to everyone, to be a faithful steward of all that God has entrusted to him/her, and to obey the Word of God in all matters of faith and life.

Why do we believe this?

1 Corinthians 10:31 – So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Why does it matter?

A common phrase I heard growing up in Mayfield, Kentucky was “don’t embarrass the family.” There was no instruction about being good, kind, or respectful, just a reminder not to mess up the reputation of the family name. At that point in my life, the phrase sounded very awkward. Now, I know that the phrase is a part of my reality. When I walk out of my house, I represent my wife and kids, my Mayfield family, my employer (Living Hope), and myself. If I make a poor choice, then all the reputations of those I represent suffer. The Scripture we read today reminds believers that in all that we do, we should glorify God. That thought should reign supreme in our mind. In this world, believers should represent God. In Exodus 19:6, it says that God’s chosen one are his priests. A priest is one who mediates between God and the world. So when non-believers look at us, they should see evidence of God in our lives. When we speak, they should hear evidence of God in our lives. Our conduct opens up opportunities for others to see the love of Christ and opens doors for us to share the Gospel

By Dennis Strom

What do we believe?

Though sin remains a reality, as we are led by the spirit, we grow in the knowledge of the Lord and endeavor to keep His commands.

Why do we believe this?

Titus 2:11,12 –  For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age

 Why does it matter?

Being led by the spirit is vital to a believer’s walk with God. The Holy Spirit was provided for us as our comforter and to some extent as our conscience. Jesus is quoted in John 14:26 as saying “26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

Are you led by the Spirit ?  He will help you live in self-control. He will help you to live a Godly life and He will bless you with His consistent, loving counsel on everyday things. The Holy Spirit will lead you to a deeper walk with God, a more fulfilling life and He will grow you in the Lord.

Let the Helper, The Holy Spirit, teach you all things and bring you to remembrance of all that Jesus has said …..  As Believers we have the Holy Spirit within us…. Trust and be led by Him today.