1 Timothy 5 - 5.24.23

Scripture

1 Timothy 5:23

23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

Observation

Paul was giving advice to Timothy (his apprentice and a younger Pastor), regarding how to treat all the people in the church. I love though how he stops and gives Timothy advice on his frequent illnesses.

Timothy would not be as effective to his pastoral duties if he wasn’t personally well and Scripture says that he was frequently ill! This proves that Paul not only loved Timothy as his mentee and ministry partner in the Lord, but he also loved him beyond the church.

Application

What is a practical way that we can show love to our family at DSC, beyond the church and partnering in ministry? 

One of our core values at DSC is that “People are our heart.” A deeper explanation is that “We care more about each person than what they bring to the table.”

Some things we can do to tangibly display this love is by praying for them, cooking or taking them out to a meal, helping with kids, house chores, providing transportation, writing a card of encouragement, visiting them in the hospital, giving them rest, giving them a hug and just letting them cry, etc.

There are multiple ways that we can care about people outside of the partnership of church ministry, to ensure that their own personal spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well being is taken care of. If someone in the Body is grieving or in physical/emotional pain, it affects church ministry. 

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for placing me in a church family who cares for me beyond what I bring to the table. I pray that outsiders would see our deep love for each other as Christ followers and be drawn to You as a result. Amen. 

-Michelle Gaddi

1 Timothy 4 - 5.22.23

Scripture

I Timothy 4:7-8

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Observation

Am I spending time on things of SOME value at the expense of what has ALL value?

Application

There are so many good things in this life – things that deserve our time and attention - our family, relationships, physical health, financial health. God tells us to be good stewards of the things He has entrusted to us. And that requires work, training, discipline, and time. This is not wasted time - these are GOOD things. But we always have to remember that God, and our relationship with Him, is the GREATEST thing. Are we training to be godly above all else?

On Sunday, Pastor Levi spoke about the armor of God. I loved the analogy of having a gas card that gives you unlimited access to all the gas you could want, but you still have to go to the gas station to get the gas. Likewise, we have access to the POWER OF GOD, but we still have to go to the power station. If we want to be godly, we have to spend time with God.

Prayer

God, thank you for your blessings in my life. But help me to remember where the blessings come from. Forgive me for all the times I put the blessings ahead of the one who blesses. Help me to remember that growing in godliness requires training in godliness.

- Debbie Dunn

Psalm 67 - 5.22.23

Scripture

Psalms‬ ‭67‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT

“May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere. May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you.”

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Observation

In this psalm, the psalmist is praying and asking for God’s favor and blessings to be upon them. The psalmist yearns for people everywhere to come to know God’s saving grace and awesome power. This way, all the nations can be as one, receiving salvation through God, giving Him their praise, and their lands being blessed.

Application

Find someone today to share the Good News about God’s love for them.

“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” - Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬ ‭

I think we all could agree on one thing…the world needs Jesus. Imagine a world where everyone loved God wholeheartedly, and loved one another the way we love ourselves? 🤔I imagine it would be a world like the psalmist in this passage is praying for. A world where all nations come together and give God their praise. A world where we would love God and each other wholeheartedly. A world that would be blessed by God. But, how can people know about Jesus and His love for them unless someone tells them? It starts with me and you. We may not have the power to change people’s hearts for Jesus, (only God does), but we all can do our part by planting that seed and praying for people to come to know Him.

Prayer

Father God, I pray for the courage and strength to go out in the world today and to find someone to share the Good News with. Help me to be bold. May Your Holy Spirit highlight someone for me to share with. Help me to be obedient to Your prompting. May You give me the words to speak into their lives. May this world come to know just how much You love them. May we give You all our praise. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽

-Moses Gaddi

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