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Hey Nova Kids!

This month we’re learning about Discernment. Discernment is basically just knowing the differences between two things: black from white, right from wrong, God’s voice from other voices.

Lots of people helped write these reflections this month, and we all hope that you will learn a lot about what it means to follow Jesus. Be sure to ask your parents any questions you have as you read through this together each day.

Love, Amy Martin

Monday, October 30

James 1:5. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

What are some of the ways you can talk about God with your friends? Sometimes it is tough to talk about God if you are with friends that might not believe in Him. Instead of thinking that you can never talk about God with that friend, pray for the Lord to give you the wisdom to know when it is the right time to talk about Jesus. Look for ways you can invite your friend to a church event; ask them if they need prayer; tell them why you believe in Jesus. Ask for wisdom to know how to spread the gospel to your non-believing friends, and the Lord will surely give you the insights you need because He knows your heart and loves it when we fully rely on Him.

Jesus, I need your wisdom each and every day so that I can act according to your word and be a great disciple for You. Give me the wisdom I need to glorify you. Amen

--Lance Capel

Tuesday, October 31

Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Sometimes life gets scary when you hear about terrible things happening in the world or when unhappy things happen in your personal life. It’s hard to make sense out of it all. It bothers you inside a lot and sometimes even makes you angry. In Proverbs 3:5-6, God gives us some very practical advice in living a peaceful and calm life even though everything seems in turmoil. His advice has sure helped me in staying calm even when everything else is just the opposite. In fact, I’ve made it my life’s verse.

Here’s the advice: 1. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart”--bet your life on God’s

truth and wisdom.2. “Lean not on your own understanding”--give up trying to figure

out everything on your own.3. “In all your ways acknowledge him”--make God a vital part of

everything you do.

Maybe you’re like me: I get car sick when someone drives too faston winding mountain roads; no problem on straight ones.Following God’s advice and living on His “straight road” is living awonderful life. We have to decide which road we are going totravel: God’s straight road or the world’s crooked road. When wetake God’s advice seriously, we can have a peaceful and calm lifeeven though everything seems to be falling apart around us.

Dear Lord Jesus, I want to have this life that is beyond amazing. Help me to resist the pressures I feel to walk the crooked road of the world. Help me to follow Your advice even when it is unpopular. Take me, Jesus and mold me after Your way. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

--Ron Graff

Wednesday, November 1

Hebrews 5:11-14. We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Raise your hand if you want to only drink milk for the rest of your life. No! Who would want to do that?!? Think of all the delicious foods you would be missing out on. The same is true with understanding what God says in your bible. God wants us to grow and mature from reading and understanding what is written in the bible. When we do this, we can learn what is good and what is evil in our lives.

Your bible is a fantastic way to learn about God. What are you doing to understand what God says in your bible? Are you okay with being happy only drinking milk or basically doing nothing to learn? Or are you trying your best to eat solid foods to grow and understand what God says.

Imagine if a big NFL football player decided he was only going to drink milk all the time and eat nothing else. I don’t think he would be strong enough to last one football game. Do you? It’s the same with you and understanding God’s Word. Stop being okay with only drinking milk and move on to solid food. Do everything you can to understand what God says in your bible. Learn about God and go share what you know with your friends.

Dear God, thank you for my bible and how inside it you help me understand what is good and what is evil. Help me to understand more about you and share who you are to my friends. Amen.

--Jackie Austel

Thursday, November 2

Ephesians 5:15-17. Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

It’s difficult to not be distracted by the things and beliefs of this world, particularly in a society that tells you to do “whatever feels good” and whatever is “best for you”. Sometimes good and evil can become blurry to us, but God’s Word can help us tell good from evil as clearly as we can distinguish between black and white.

Jesus invites us to come to him in any and every situation. When you are trying to understand God’s will or you are faced with life’s problems and choices, no matter how big or small, seek God through prayer and the bible. His Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and true. It does not change, just as He Himself does not change. Although we are not able to see the bigger picture the way God does, He has given us access to His will through scripture and the Holy Spirit. We need to make the most of every opportunity given to us to check that our thoughts, actions, words, and desires match up with His.

Father, help me to look to your Word and to trust in Your Spirit to guide me. Protect me from accepting everything that the world around me values and believes. Help me to use the tools you have given me to discern and follow Your will.

--Natalie Pitman

Friday, November 3

Galatians 5:22-23. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

If you make the decision to start following Jesus, you will soon have to make some choices. What should I do with my money? Who should I be friends with? How should I treat my brother or sister? These are all choices you had to make before, but now you will want to know what Jesus wants you to do. How can you know?! Jesus gives us his Word, and he also gives us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit promises to remind you what you learned from the Bible, and he also promises to produce his “fruit” inside of you. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you make choices that will please Jesus--ones that are loving, patient, kind, and good; choices done with peace and joy even when you are doing something that is hard for you; actions done with faithfulness, gentleness and self-control that you know is only in you because the Holy Spirit is living in you.

Holy Spirit, when I am in a situation and am tempted to do the wrong thing or don’t know what the right thing is, will you please remind me what the Bible teaches? Grow your fruit inside of me so that it becomes easier and easier to do the things that please Jesus.

--Amy Martin

Monday, November 6

James 3:13-17. If you are wise, live a life of steady goodness so that only good deeds will pour forth. And if you don’t brag about them, then you will be truly wise! And by all means don’t brag about being wise and good if you are bitter and jealous and selfish; that is the worst sort of lie. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, inspired by the devil. For wherever there is jealousy or selfish ambition, there will be disorder and every other kind of evil. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure and full of quiet gentleness. Then it is peace-loving and courteous. It allows discussion and is willing to yield to others; it is full of mercy and good deeds. It is wholehearted and straightforward and sincere.

Do you find it difficult to know the right thing to do? Who do you go to for advice? What or who is your source of knowledge?James teaches us that there are four places to get wisdom:From the world around us (people/books/movies/etc)From ourselves (decisions based on our feelings and opinions)From the devil, who is our enemy. He tricks us into disobeying God.From God, who has all knowledge and always does what is right.When we need to know what to do or how to do something, we can ask others for their advice or find information on the internet; we learn from stories we read and movies we watch. Sometimes this can be helpful. But sometimes it can lead us in the wrong direction. Even our own emotions can cause us to make the wrong choices. When we read God’s word in the Bible, He promises to teach us the right way to think and the right things to do (Rom 12:2). Before we do or say anything, we should always ask ourselves, “Does the Bible agree with this? Does this please God?” Jesus said the greatest commandments are to Love God and Love Others. Are our decisions selfish or do our words and actions show that we love God and others?

Oh Mighty God, you have promised in your word to give me wisdom when I ask for it. You have promised to give me a new heart and a new mind so that I can make decisions that please you. Help me to understand your word so that I will not be tricked by the world or the devil. I only want to do what is right in your eyes.

--Laurie Griffin

Tuesday, November 7

Matthew 19:16-22. Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”“Which ones?” he inquired.Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Have you ever heard the word eternity before? Do you know what it means? It’s another way of saying forever, or never-ending. God promises us that if we believe in Him we can have eternal life, which means we can live with Him forever!

Eternity is a very long time, so how do you think we should be spending our time now here on the Earth. In the story we just read Jesus actually tells the man how we should be living our lives! He first tells the man that we should obey God always. But not only that, we should also help other people whenever we can. He basically tells the man that it is better to not have that much stuff and help people than to have a whole bunch of stuff and not help anyone. It’s definitely OK to have stuff, like toys, games, and other things, but Jesus tells us that it isn’t good if all we care about is our stuff rather than obeying God and helping people.

God, thank you for all the great things you have given to me. But God, help me to be generous with these things and help me to do what matters the most: obeying You and helping other people. Amen.

--Garrett Koch


Malachi 3:7-12. “Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’“You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

What are you keeping from God that was meant for him to have? How might that stop you from seeing the goodness of God in big ways?The Israelites were keeping the money that was meant to be given to God as a gift. They saw God as a God of who had little to offer them, instead of seeing God as the God of big things and generosity. They had forgotten the promises God had already given them. God was not satisfied with that because it meant they weren’t trusting God and his promises. God desires to give us good gifts and bless us with more than what we can dream of. But when we don’t let God have access our lives and our belongings, we miss out on the blessings he wants to bring to us, our families, and our friends.

What are you keeping that is meant to be given to God? Is there an area in your life where you have more control than God? What stops you from seeing the generosity of God for you?

Father God, help me to remember and trust in your promises. Forgive me for keeping parts of myself from you. Show me what it looks like to live in the generosity of your love for me. --Coral Taluban


“Let the man who would hear God speak, read the Holy Scriptures… The Holy Spirit himself, Christ Jesus our Savior, and God the Creator of all things, is the Author of this book.”

“The Bible is the proper book for all people. There, the truth is distinguished from error far more clearly than anywhere else. For some 28 years now, I have read through the Bible twice each year and preached constantly from God’s Word. Yet, I have not exhausted it, but find something new in it every day.” Martin Luther, circa 1517-1547

When I was ten years old, I could run and play all day! Now, 55 years later, I tire out more easily, I can’t hear as well, and I need glasses to see clearly. It’s frustrating, but it’s normal for our physical bodies to wear out. However, as I child of God, that process is reversed! Our hearing of God’s voice, our vision and understanding, and our spiritual energy can improve as we age! How? Practice these three exercises every day: 1. Draw close to our God through reading His Word. 2. Take time to pray. 3. Obey--that means doing what God tells you to do! You’ll hear His voice and see clearly what His will is for you! Then, just do it! He will supply the wisdom, the words, and the power to get His will done! When you walk with Jesus, you can go anywhere!

Lord, open my heart to receive your Word today.

-- Rick D’Amico

Friday, November 10

Isaiah 11:2-3. And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. He will delight in obeying the LORD. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay.

When Jesus looks at you He sees everything about you. He knows the good things you do, the bad things you do, and even everything you think. Jesus is able to see you and love you no matter what. He does that with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The people in our lives, like our friends or family, will eventually do things we don’t like or that aren’t nice. We should ask God to help us still love and be nice to those people no matter what.

God, help me to love other people the way you love me no matter what.

--Kat Whiteside

Monday, November 13　Acts 13:2-3. One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

In the Bible there are many stories of people praying and choosing to not eat because they have a very important task or decision to make. What they are doing is withholding something that they normally do, like eating and turning their focus on God by praying.

-Can you think of something that you had to do that was VERY IMPORTANT?-Can you think of a VERY IMPORTANT decision you had to make?-Did you feel scared? Worried? Excited? Confident?

Next time you have to make an important decision or you have to finish an important project, try fasting for a few hours or a day (withholding something you normally do*) and praying.*Examples of "fasting" could be: not watching TV, not going on the computer, or eating only healthy food.

Try fasting and praying together as a family and when the fast is finished talk about:What was fasting and praying like for you? What was easy? What was hard? What did you learn by fasting and praying?　Dear God, help me to focus on you for all things in my life. In the times that I have an important project or a hard decision, give me the strength to fast and pray so that I can be focused on you and your will for my life. Amen.

--Dean Mayeda

Tuesday, November 14

Daniel 10:3. All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed.

Have you ever given something up for Lent? Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending the Saturday before Easter. The forty days remind us of the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, preparing for His ministry, and being tempted by Satan. You give something up, and every time you want that thing you think about Jesus Christ' sacrifice on the cross. Some of the churches I attended in the past encouraged us to give up something during Lent. At various times, I have given up caffeine, Starbucks, Diet Pepsi, and desserts/sweets to prepare for the coming of Easter. Giving up sweets was really hard for me because my birthday is in March--usually during Lent--and I couldn't eat any birthday cake!

Instead of giving up food, you can give up an activity such as watching a tv show or playing a video game. Whenever you think about that show or game you can remember that God is always with us. During the time you would have been watching the tv or playing the game, you could read the Bible or get to know a new friend. I suggest you consider giving up something for a week and see how your relationship with God grows.

Dear Heavenly Father, I want to focus on you more. Help me to think of something to give up so I can draw closer to you or find out more about a new friend. And all God's people said "Amen".

--Carla Conte


Psalm 119:66. I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge.

There are probably times when you didn't like what your parent(s) said to you. For example: "No dessert until you have finished all your dinner." or "Play time is over, time to do your homework.” In the same way, when we think of God's commands, we often think of it as something that keeps us from having fun. But it is actually the opposite. God's laws and commandments give us strength, make us wise, bring joy to our heart, and give us wisdom and direction. His word both warns us and rewards us! God's laws are guidelines that light our path. God is not a party pooper--He is the Life of the party!!!

Dear God, I know that your word (the Bible) is here to teach me good judgment and knowledge. Help me to read your word in truth and understanding. Help me to apply your teachings to my life each and every day in every way! In Jesus's name, Amen

--Lauri Chipeco


Philippians 3:19. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul contrasts those that live “as enemies of the cross of Christ” with those who have “citizenship in heaven.” In this passage, Paul states that the enemies of God have a different god – their stomach.

We can make gods or idols of many things in our lives. Sometimes this is a person, sometimes this is something we really love like food or video games or sports. Many times the things we care about only make us happy for a short time, and so we need more and more and more of these things, which can end up harming us.

As citizens of heaven through Jesus, we have a hope beyond this life. As Pastor Dave recently preached, we know that despite the problems in our lives, God ultimately wins and we are on his team! As a result, we should treat ourselves, our neighbors, and even our enemies just as Jesus does.

What are the earthly, unimportant things that you care about in your life?

Father, I confess that my heart and mind are often focused on earthly things. Give me an eternal perspective and help me to care for the things that you care about. Thank you for your faithfulness.

--Andrew Pitman

Friday, November 17

Isaiah 58:3-7. ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’ “I will tell you why!” I respond. “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.

You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the LORD? No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.”

Have you ever given up something for God before? When you choose to give something up so that you can hear God speaking without distractions in your life, it is called Fasting.Have you ever had a friend who wanted help from you, but instead of following your advice goes and does the opposite of what you said? It can make you sad when your friends don’t listen. This is what the Israelites were doing in this story. They were asking God for help, and then not actually listening and doing what he told them to do. They were pretending that they wanted God’s help, while really doing something else. They just wanted to look good in front of other people. When we want God’s help, we need to be willing to listen to and follow what he says.Are you ready to listen to God and ask for his help? If the answer is yes, then ask him to help you and he will. But when he does, you need to be ready to listen and obey him.

Father God, I want to hear your voice and your plans for my life. Help me to be open to your help and to what you say. Help me to be obedient to you.

--Coral Taluban

Monday, November 20

James 4:6-10. But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Do you ever feel discouraged because when you try to live for God you sometimes end up being particularly mean or naughty? Our enemy--the devil--is always fighting against our desire to be like Jesus and trust in him. Sometimes he attacks us with feelings like discouragement, fear, or anger. It just seems to rise up in us like a volcano. What can we do?! We can tell God that we need his help as we stand firm against those feelings by remembering the truth about God and his care for us that we read about in his Word. Sometimes the devil attacks us in our relationships. He loves to cause misunderstandings, fights and hurt between you and the people you love. When we are having trouble with a person we love, it’s important to remember who the real enemy is--the devil. Then we can humble ourselves, apologize to the other person we hurt, and pray together with them. Ask God to bless the other person and your relationship.

Jesus, give me the Holy Spirit to help me know when bad feelings inside me are coming from my enemy. Thank you that I can always turn to you and you will help me fight back and replace those feelings with love, joy and peace.

--Amy Martin


1 Peter 5:8. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Have you ever seen a lion at the zoo or on TV? How did it make you feel to see it? Maybe a little scared. Why? Because you know they hunt their prey. And you don’t want to become their prey! This is why Peter uses this illustration of a lion on the prowl to devour his prey as a visual warning of how dangerous Satan is to our spiritual being. He is telling us how urgent it is for us to stay alert by keeping our minds and attitudes focused on God. Just like the lion waiting to attack his prey, Satan our spiritual enemy is waiting for just the right opportunity or moment to deceive us. Satan will do whatever it takes to damage our faith. He will whisper lies by causing fear and anxiety. But as children of God we need to know what are God’s truths and what are Satan’s lies. Reading your bible, praying, and being in relationship with our Heavenly Father will help us stand firm in our faith.

Dear Heavenly Father,I pray that my faith and love for your deepen and strengthen as I trust in your truths and promises. Let me cast all my anxieties onto you Lord so that I may have a humble heart and a clear mind to discern anything that isn't from you.In Jesus’ precious name I pray, Amen.

--Rebecca Hester


Ephesians 4:26-27. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

What makes you really mad? When you are mad, how do you act? What kind of words do you say? Other people making us mad is a normal part of life. Sometimes people treat us poorly or things don’t go our way and it makes us angry. When anger becomes a problem is when we don’t know how to deal with it correctly and it leads us to sin. When we say and do mean things to other people because we are angry, our anger is causing us to sin.

This passage tells us that we are not supposed to sin when other people make us mad. It also tells us that we are not supposed to stay angry at other people. But how are we supposed to do that? We need to remember that we also do things that make other people mad because every one of us is a sinner. We also remember that even though we mess up, Jesus forgives us. When we remember how much we have been forgiven by Jesus it can help us to forgive other people when they make us mad.

Heavenly Father, thank you for forgiving me for every wrong thing I have done. Help me to learn how to deal with feeling angry and avoid letting my anger lead me to sin. When other people make me mad, help me to forgive them in the same way that you have forgiven me. Amen.

--Shannon Pitman


Over 500 years ago, Martin Luther was a monk living and studying in Germany. He wanted so badly to get very close to God, but the more he did to try and gain God’s favor, the more aware he became of his own sinfulness. While studying the book of Romans he read the words, “The just shall live by faith”, and realized that it wasn’t up to him to “do” anything, but simply having faith in Jesus would bring him into a close relationship with God. His desire to live a life of faith and obedience to God became difficult when he realized that church leaders at that time were not living as God wanted them to live. Church leaders were dishonest, selfish, and making up church rules that were not God’s rules. On October 31, 1517, Luther posted 95 topics of discussion on the door of the church. This was the first step in making positive changes in church teachings and behavior. This date and Luther’s actions were the beginning of what is known as the “Reformation”. Luther wrote many hymns that were sung in the church. His most famous hymn is titled “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”. He wrote this song based on Psalm 46, which says “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble…The Lord of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our stronghold.” Around the world, churches still sing this hymn as a celebration of God and his power over all earthly and spiritual forces. Here is a portion of that hymn:A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark (defensive wall) never failing;Our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe—His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,On earth is not his equal.Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,Were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing.Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He—Lord Sabaoth His name, from age to age the same,And He must win the battle.Dear Jesus, thank you for brave men and women who chose to live their lives for you, even when it was very difficult. Please help my faith to grow, so that I may live in a way that brings you honor and glory. And thank you for the gift of music. Help me to memorize worship songs and hymns that will be an encouragement to me when times becomes hard.

--Donna D’Amico

Friday, November 24

Ephesians 6:10-12. A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Have you ever justified a lie in your head and told it to your parent? Have you ever done something that seems right to you even though you were told not to? Have you ever seen someone doing something wrong and just followed along? These are the sneaky ways Satan tries to drive us away from God. There is good news. God have given us the Armor of God to fight off Satan’s attack: Belt of Truth. God’s truth is everlasting and Satan cannot change it. Breastplates of Righteousness. We are forever made righteous when we put our faith in Jesus. Feet fitted with the gospel of peace. The gospel is our mission, to share the good news of Jesus to others through our lives. Our peace in difficult circumstances is one way to share the gospel.Shield of faith. Our faith does not only believe that God is real, but that he is also living and active in our lives.Helmet of Salvation. A helmet protects the most important part of your body, just like our salvation protects us from the evil scheme of Satan.Sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. The sword can be used as both an offensive and defensive weapon. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrew 4:12. Prayer. In case you forgot all the above, you can always talk to our commander and chief, who is always ready to listen to us and give us direction.

Dear Jesus, thank you for providing me with the tools needed to stand firm despite Satan’s attempt to separate us. Help me to remember I have these tools at all times so I can withstand and overcome Satan’s attack. In Jesus name we pray, Amen

--Wilkin Lee

Monday, November 27

2 Kings 6:15-17. When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!” The LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

Every day we choose to either live like Elisha or his servant. We can spend time with God in His Word and prayer, allowing Him to open our eyes to see from His perspective, or we can do life on our own, seeing with only our natural eyes. But if we only pay attention to what we can see with our eyes and touch with our hands, we will not understand the truth of what is actually taking place around us--we will forget that there is also a spiritual world around us that is just as real as the natural world.

Paul prayed for God to give the Ephesian Christians the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they would know Him better, and that the eyes of their hearts would be enlightened to know the hope to which He has called us and His incomparably great power for those who believe. May that be our prayer for ourselves and our family in Christ.

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, give (name ) your Spirit of wisdom and understanding so that ______ will know You better. I pray that ________’s heart will be flooded with light so that he/she will be filled with hope and have faith that your incomparably great power is working for those who believe.

--Dave Martin


Philippians 1:9-10. I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

What do you think of when you hear the word overflowing? A Christmas tree overflowing with gifts? A basket overflowing with candy and treats? A bathtub overflowing with sweet smelling bubbles? Each of these images brings a few words to mind: an abundance of blessings. Those images are all good and wonderful things, just like God has made each of you wonderfully in His own image. Just like the tree, the basket, and the tub; the Lord has built you as a vessel to overflow His love and blessings to the people you meet in your daily life. This is a great responsibility, but through prayer and asking for the Lord to use you, this responsibility will feel more like exactly what you were made to do. Ultimately, by choosing to overflow the love of Jesus, you are choosing to follow him, which will “bring much glory and praise to God.”

Dear Lord, help us to be children that love you so much that every interaction we have overflows with your love and goodness. Amen.

--Kelli Capel


Proverbs 9:10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

What are some things you’re afraid of? I’m afraid of _________. The dictionary’s definition of fear is: an extremely anxious emotion caused by danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined. But the fear of the Lord is something totally different! To “fear of the Lord” means to respect God, have an attitude of deep worship, obey His commands, and serve Him always. Don’t be afraid to talk to God. He has a lot of things to tell you. When we do that, God will give us wisdom and help us make the right decisions in our daily lives.

Dear Jesus, Thank you that You are a God that is full of wisdom and grace. Thank you for Your perfect love that drives out all our fears. When I am afraid help me to not only tell my parents, but also talk to You about my fears. Help us to know and trust in Your ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

-- Takako Lee


Philippians 2:12b-13. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

God has saved us! He not only saved us by dying on the cross, he also saves us by working in us now to change how we act. Though we want to act good and to do what pleases God, sometimes we mess up. But God wants what’s best for us, so he helps us in our struggle to do the right thing.

Any time you’re having a hard time doing what is right, ask God for help!

God, thank you for loving me and saving me. Continue to help me be obedient to you.

--Thomas Whiteside

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