Grafted Church

Timshel It was The Father who hands us 'the choice.' Gnosis Retread~Rethinking what we know.... Noah's Flood See more

Continue to soak on fresh revelations about the Lord that we have discovered through His creation, His general revelation to all mankind. Take time with the Lord for Him to speak to and reveal Himself to you personally. This is His great purpose; to restore us back into an intimate relationship with Him. Let us offer Him our most precious gift, our time, that we may behold Him. He is always faithful to meet us! Today, we will look at the events leading up to the Flood, focusi...ng on the heart of man in contrast to the heart of God. Questions to ponder as you study: 1. Unlike Cain & Abel, why is "in his likeness/image" used when talking about Seth? (Gen 5:1-3) 2. What do you think is meant in what God says in Gen 6:3 3. How did the Lord FEEL about the fall of mankind? (Gen 6:6-7) 4. Why did Noah find favor in the eyes of the Lord? (Gen 6:8-9) Scripture Reading: Genesis 4:1-16, 5:1-5, 6:1-9 ~Gnosis Retread - Rethinking what we know. To know HIS word, is to better know our Creator.

We all know well that it is impossible to reach the crown without first fighting. As we also know that for those who do not abandon the battle and are faithful, God has reserved a crown. And on this day he reminds us that: Behold, I am coming soon; retain what you have, so that no one will take your crown .... Encourage each other. ~Bishop Aner

We’ve all come to know the Bible as a book of sacred writings, Holy Scripture, the redemption story of mankind through Jesus, and more. 2 Timothy 3:14-17 is a pretty good summary of how the Bible deeply impacts our faith & walk with the Lord. What if you understood the Bible to be all of this and MORE than we thought? Gnosis Retread #2: What is the Bible?... This Sunday @ Grafted Church See more

Brethren in Christ US Week of Prayer & Fasting Day 8 Treasured Perspective January 10, 2021... By Erica & Jonathan Lloyd Scripture meditation: Matthew 13:44 Our first Christmas in Malawi brought high temperatures, unrelenting humidity, and extra homesickness. It just didn’t feel like Christmas. We were prepared for change, but we didn’t know it would feel like this. But honest grieving of what we missed, coupled with thankfulness for the new things we experienced, brought surprising blessings to our Christmas celebration a buried treasure if you will. The lucky man who found the treasure in the field was not crazy to sell everything to buy the field. In this teaching, Jesus is not praising the commitment of the treasure hunter, rather he is testifying to the immeasurable value of the treasure. Jesus is saying it is worth trading everything you have or love to belong to God’s kingdom. We love a lot of people and even a lot of things; sometimes we forget how much more valuable Jesus and his kingdom actually are. That’s why our first Christmas in Malawi was such a gift. Without our normal Christmas traditions, the treasure of Jesus and the difference his birth makes in our desperately hurting world became clearly visible. When things don’t go as planned, we are offered the gift of perspective. If we know that Jesus is our most precious treasure, we can rejoice when challenges reveal other things we have come to worship and depend on. We are blessed and God is glorified when Jesus has the uncontested first place. Prayer Father, thank you for the treasure of belonging to you through Jesus. We want to love you fully and worship you only because you are worth it. Thank you for the challenges that help us to do that.

Brethren in Christ US Week of Prayer & Fasting Day 7 Steady and Strong January 9, 2021... By Lynn Thrush Scripture meditation: Genesis 49:24-25 Like a whipsaw Joseph experienced sudden changes in life’s direction. He had to be hopeful, with a special coat from his father indicating favored status and those amazing dreams in which his parents and brothers bowed to him. Where did this hope and favor go when he was tossed into a cistern and sold to Egypt? But then it must have been rewarding to be in charge of Potiphar’s whole estate, both the house and the fields. Then in an instant, he was falsely accused by the boss’s wife, and thrown into prison. Joseph was then placed in charge of prison operations and all his fellow prisoners. He encourages the Pharaoh’s cupbearer by interpreting a dream, but when the cupbearer is released, he forgot about Joseph for two years. Then, in a very short time, Joseph was made second-in-command over all of Egypt. Pharaoh gave Joseph his signet ring, a robe of fine linen, a gold chain around his neck, and a chariot. The people shouted bow down before Joseph. As Joseph’s father was on his deathbed, he said to Joseph, You shall be steady and strong, and the reason? Because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, because of your father’s God who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you (Gen. 49:24-25). For you, when like a whipsaw life suddenly changes direction, may you know the God who helps you be steady and strong. Prayer Father, I am unable to predict life’s transitions and surprises, its gifts and tears. Because you are my rock and my shepherd, because your hand reaches out to me and helps me, because you bless me, I shall also be steady and strong.

Brethren in Christ US Week of Prayer & Fasting Day 6 Honest Grief in the Midst of Joy January 8, 2021... By Heather Beaty Scripture meditation: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 Our family loves new adventures! New friends. New foods. New challenges. Most of the time. Occasionally, however, I am reminded that these new adventures stretch us in ways that are uncomfortable. Sometimes, they demand more of us than we feel we can give. Over the years, God has called our family to relocate multiple times to serve in different locations across the United States. After our third cross-country resettlement, our daughter, who was five at the time, looked up and asked, Why doesn’t Jesus tell someone else to move? I must confess, my first instinct was to talk about the wonderful rewards that come with following Jesus. To explain to her that while we may have our own plans, God’s are bigger and better than our own. Or to remind her that, We can do all thing through Christ who strengthens us. But looking at her little face I realized she was simply processing grief and loss with childlike honesty. Her little life was being turned upside down in an unexpected fashion. While all of my responses were true, what she needed right then was presence, comfort, and understanding. We all experience transitions that are painful. Saying goodbye to a loved one. Losing a job that we enjoyed. Relocating and starting over. Even in new opportunities, we must process surrendered expectations and unfulfilled dreams. In the midst of these experiences, our family has found encouragement from Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. It is okay to recognize loss and to grieve unexpected change. We also know those same experiences prepare us to encourage others with the presence, comfort, and hope of Christ in their time of need. Prayer Father, thank you that you are present in the midst of every challenge and transition. Help me to trust you in these times and to look for opportunities to comfort others who are experiencing unexpected pain and loss today.

Brethren in Christ US Week of Prayer & Fasting Day 5 Sudden Changes January 7, 2021... By Rob Patterson Scripture meditation: Numbers 14, Job 1-2, Acts 9 I have a habit of singing. It’s usually random, but occasionally I sing a song that relates to something in the moment. One evening I burst out with the line If I could turn back time. The following morning, my wife, Daryl, mentioned it. I sensed it was on her mind, so I asked, What is the one thing you would do if you could turn back time? She said, I would tell Lisa to stay home. Lisa was Daryl’s baby sister. In April 1991, while standing at the end of her driveway talking to a friend, Lisa was struck and killed by a drunken driver. In just a moment, our lives were forever changed. Consider these Bible characters whose lives were also suddenly and irrevocably altered: Joshua and Caleb were godly men of strong character and faith. When they visited the Promised Land, they were confident that they would possess it. But due to the Israelites’ lack of faith, they instead had to wander in the desert for 40 years. At Satan’s request, God permitted Job’s faith to be tested. What had previously been a comfortable life turned sour when his children and possessions were wiped out in just one day. After Saul’s blinding encounter with Jesus, the same Jesus whom he had been attacking, his life turned upside down. He was given a new name and a new calling. It might be our own doing, others’ choices, or possibly God’s sovereign will; but life can change suddenly. Be prepared. Stand in the faith even when all seems wrong. Walk in the light. Prayer Father, thank you for your presence, your provision, and your protection. Forgive our sins. Fill us with your Spirit. Deliver us from evil. May we forever be unified with Jesus, and with one another.