BOOK OF THE MONTH – April 2024

7 BASICS: Strong Roots For Every Christian by Beth Jones

“God wants you to get the basics!”

“He wants you to get to know Him, the Bible, faith and what it means to be a Christian. This book is a must read for new believers, young followers of Christ as well as those who have been walking with the Lord for many years. God wants every believer to survive and thrive by having a strong root system in Him and His Word. The 7 BASICS will help you do just that!”

7 BASICS
“BASIC #1: Get To Know God”
“BASIC #2: Get Into The Bible”
“BASIC #3: Get Real In Prayer”
“BASIC #4: Get into A Good Church”
“BASIC #5: Get Excited And Tell Somebody”
“BASIC #6: Get Your Head On Straight”
“BASIC #7: Get Ready For The Adventure”

Beth Jones has been helping people ‘get the basics’ of God’s Word for over 30 years. She is the author of 20 books, including the popular GETTING A GRIP ON THE BASICS Bible Study series being used by thousands of churches in America and abroad. She and her husband Jeff founded and serve as senior pastors of Valley Family Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan.”

The above quotes were taken from the back cover of 7 BASICS: Strong Roots For Every Christian by Beth Jones

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Prayer: FROM MY HEART……TO GOD’S HEART by Grace Drake

(As my abundant tears flowed and my words poured out in excruciating agony, God poured into me His words of comfort and faithfulness and truth. And the paralyzing depression lifted.)

Father, You know the hope I have had. And now the deep sadness and longing I feel. With more delay and uncertainty. It seems so long. But it’s just a moment in time to You. I have said, “I don’t have any answers. But I know Who does. And I trust Him completely.” But things didn’t turn out like I thought they would. Help me to find that sweet place again of perfect peace. Of steadfast trusting. Reminding myself, again and again, that You always finish what You start. And You don’t quit until it’s good. That You are faithful, even when I am not. Thank You for reminding me that this is a spiritual battle. And that the job you have given me is much more important than making things happen my way. Or wanting to have all the answers. Because Your ways and thoughts and purposes are far above mine. My job is to trust You and Your Word. And to speak Your Word over this situation. And all of us involved. Using the authority that You have given me over these spirits of darkness and generational curses. Preparing the way for You to work in this situation. Thank You, Father, for guiding me to a place where I once again rest in You.

Scriptures
A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. (Psalm 90:4)
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You. (Isaiah 26:3)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:10-20)
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:8-12)
Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. (John 17:17)
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:10)
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:28)
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants You have established a stronghold against Your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is mankind that You are mindful of them, human beings that You care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of Your hands; You put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:1-9)
Jesus called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. (Matthew 10:1)
They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Revelation 12:11)
A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:3-5)
For no Word from God will ever fail. (Luke 1:37)
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God endures forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, Who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. (Isaiah 64:4)
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)
Even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. (Psalm 139:10)
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

BLESSING

“Now may the God who brought us peace by raising from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ so that he would be the Great Shepherd of his flock; and by the power of the blood of the eternal covenant may he work perfection into every part of you giving you all that you need to fulfill your destiny. And may he express through you all that is excellent and pleasing to him through your life-union with Jesus the Anointed One who is to receive all glory forever! Amen!”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭TPT‬‬

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.””
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭31‬:‭6‬, ‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Faith Seeks God

“And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who passionately seek him.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬ ‭TPT‬‬