In your Message Center, send a message to the Trail Guides to share your conclusions. The next day check your message center for the BRC News, with comments from everyone who has written in! Meet “BRC Friends” who will pray for you and encourage you!

You may read the verses from your own Bible, or go to www.biblegateway.com or www.blueletterbible.org to read them in the version easiest for you to understand.

In April we are checking out what God says about our friendships. Each day we have verses from the  Bible to read, and then some situations to consider. Let your heart be open to what God is saying to YOU about your friendships.

April

30.   Why is it so hard to love my enemies? Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:35-37; Romans 12:17-21. It is not natural to love people who are mean or cruel to us. Our sinful, human nature wants to ‘get even’. Does ‘loving’ mean ‘have warm feelings’ about them? In what ways could you ‘love’ someone who is mean to you? Pray for God’s help to respond to someone with love today.

Wonderful Names of Our Wonderful Lord
May

How many names do you have? How many names can you think of that were given to JESUS in the Bible? I’m sure you can think of a few. There are at least 166 names and titles for Jesus! Wow! We can’t look at them all, but we’ll check out at least one of them every day for the month of May. Each name will be the one given in the King James Version. It may be slightly different in other translations.

1.       Genesis 3:15 and Philippians 2:9. Find the very first mention of the Lord Jesus in Genesis 3:15. What is He called? Why? Think about the God of the universe becoming a tiny embryo inside a woman He created. Does that blow your mind? Compare Jesus’ ‘status’ in that verse with His position in Philippians 2:9. Then think about this same Jesus being exalted very high... at the right hand of His Father.  What a difference!  Thank Jesus for being willing to be humbled this way.

 

2.       Numbers 34:17 and Matthew 2:1-16. Find two titles for Jesus in Numbers 34:17. Why are both these names special? Isn’t it cool that the ‘star’ led the wise men to The Star!! Ask Jesus to be your star today, and guide you in the way you should go.

 

3.       2 Samuel 22:47; Deuteronomy 32:4; 1 Samuel 2:2 and 2 Samuel 23:3. Have you ever walked in muck or water and searched for a solid rock to stand on? God and Jesus are your secure stepping stones. Search for the word ‘rock’ in the Psalms. (you can use www.biblegateway.com) Memorize one of those verses today, and thank Jesus for being your Rock. Sing a song about your ‘Rock’ today. Depend on Him!

 

4.       Psalm 61:3 and 144:2; Proverbs 18:10. Have you visited a fort or castle that has towers? What were they for? Why were they important? Why should a tower be high? Think of ways in which Jesus is your strong tower. He is high above your trials, temptations, foes, failures, losses and frets. He is a place of calm, peace and stillness. The door is always open. Run to Him today. Thank Him for being your Tower.

 

5.       2 Samuel 23:4 and Isaiah 9:2 and 10:17 and 60:20 and John 8:12. Get up very early and watch the sun rise. Think about Jesus as the ‘light’ in your life. What dark places do you need Him to brighten today?

 

6.       2 Samuel 23:4 and 1 Peter 1:24.  For the past few weeks our world (at least where I live!) has been turning from brown to green. The animals are loving it! Jesus is like the new, tender grass that will ‘feed’ you today. But you are like the ‘grass’ that fades away. Let Jesus be your ‘tender grass’ today. Feed on Him. Let Him refresh you.

 

7.       Psalm 23 and John 10:1-21. As you go through your day today, think of yourself as a lamb following your Shepherd. Why do you think God says we are like sheep? Sing some songs on this topic. Thank Jesus for being your Shepherd.

 

8.       Proverbs 2:6 and 8:12, Job 12:13, Psalm 111:10 and 1 Corinthians 1:30. Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. The verse in Corinthians says Jesus is made to be wisdom for you! Check out the word ‘wisdom’ in the books of Job and Proverbs using www.biblegateway.com. Wow! In what areas of your life do you need wisdom today?  ASK!!!

 

9.       Song of Solomon 2:1. Soon the shaded parts of our gardens will be filled with lily of the valley, and then our sunny spaces will bloom with beautiful, fragrant roses. Jesus will brighten both the sunny and shady parts of your life today. Find a flower and put it in your room today to remind you of this verse. Thank Jesus for being your Lily and your Rose.

 

10.   Psalm 72:6, Ezekiel 34:26 and Deuteronomy 32:2. Have you had a dry spell when you really needed a good rain? Your life is like that, too. When you feel like God is far away, or you are lonely and sad, you need Jesus to be your ‘shower of blessing’.  Sing he hymn “Showers of Blessing” today, and ask Jesus to shower the dry patches in your life. Don’t forget to thank Him!

 

11.   Proverbs 18:24 and Matthew 11:19 and John 15:14-15 and Hebrews 13:5b. Why are friends so important in your life? Have you been hurt or disappointed by a friend? JESUS is your Friend who sticks with you ALWAYS. Put Him first on your list of bff’s. Talk to Him. Spend time with Him. Depend on Him. He’s there for you today.

12.   Isaiah 4:2 and 11:1-10.  Focus on a tree today. Think about its roots, trunk, branches, height, and shape. Do you like to climb trees? Why? List some good things about trees. What do these verses say about Jesus? When you see a tree today, thank Jesus for being your Tree, and also for dying on one for you!

 

13.   Isaiah 9:6. There are lots of names for Jesus in this verse. We’ll look at each of them, so work on memorizing this verse as we study it. First… “Wonderful”. Read Hebrews 13:8. Today Jesus is working just as wonderful works as He did when He created the universe or walked on our world healing people. Sing “His Name is Wonderful” today. I hope you know that song. Look for a ‘wonderful’ thing from God in your life today.

 

14.   Isaiah 9:6 Exodus 18:19 Judges 18:5 1 Samuel 14:37 Job 12:13 and Psalm 16:7. The next name for Jesus is “Counselor”. Have you had a camp or school counselor? How was that person important to you? In the above verses who was the counselor? Jesus wants to be your counselor today. Look to Him for good advice as you go through your day. Thank Him!

 

15.   Isaiah 9:6 and Jeremiah 32:17 and 1 Peter 5:7.  There is nothing too hard for the Creator of the universe! He is the “Mighty God”. What hard things are you facing today? Jesus IS the ‘Mighty God’. Nothing in your life is too hard for Him. So dump all your problems and worries on Him! He cares and helps.

 

16.   Isaiah 9:6, Psalm 68:5 and 103:13 and Galatians 3:26.In what way(s) is your earthly father important to you? Even if you don’t have an earthly father, Jesus is called your “Everlasting Father”. He offers safety, rest and comfort. But you must become God’s child through faith in Jesus.  Are you His child? Then trust Him as your ‘everlasting Father’.

 

17.   Isaiah 9:6 and Genesis 49:10. “Shiloh” means “peace-maker”. So Jesus  is not only the ‘Prince of peace’ but He is the ‘Peace-maker’! Find a definition of ‘peace’. Check a concordance or www.biblegateway.com to find out how many times ‘peace’ appears in the Bible.  Check out Philippians 4:7 and Colossians 3:15. How can you have peace today? Whatever struggle you face, ask Jesus to be your ‘peace’.

 

18.   Isaiah 9:6… Now we’ve studied all five names given to Jesus in this verse. Review them today, and be sure you have this verse memorized. Can you list the names? Today look for ways He shows Himself to you as each title. Thank Him!

 

19.   Isaiah 22:23, Ephesians 2:21-22 and 1 Corinthians 3:9. Have you ever thought of Jesus as being a “Nail fastened in a sure place”? That’s a new one for me! What a fantastic picture! We are God’s building, but Jesus is the ‘Nail’ that fastens us together. Think of things that are nailed together… securely OR not securely. Then picture Jesus as your ‘SURE NAIL”. Thank Him today.

 

20.   Isaiah25:4, Psalm 17:8 and  Think about a time when you really needed to cool down and searched for some shade to protect you from the sun. Jesus pictures Himself as your ‘Shadow from the heat’. He’s there as you struggle through the heat of your struggles and troubles today. He offers cool, refreshing rest. Think of Him when you see and experience shadows today!

 

21.   Isaiah 28:16, 1 Corinthians 3:11-16, and 2 Timothy 2:19. Examine a building today, especially looking at the foundation and the corner stones. Consider yourself one of the bricks or boards in that building. You are part of God’s ‘building’ or ‘temple’, and Jesus is your ‘foundation’ AND your ‘corner stone’.  You are built on the most stable Foundation there could ever be! Think about that throughout the day today. Thank Him!

 

22.   Daniel 2:34-35. Have you watched or read about the building of the Great Pyramids in Egypt? The cutting of the stones must have been a HUGE and important task. They had to fit together precisely. They say you can’t even slide a knife between them. Jesus is our “Stone cut without hands”. He is planning a kingdom and government that cannot fail. He is the King whose shape and form and size and power will over-rule every man-made plan. Are you looking forward to that day?

 

23.   Isaiah 32:2, Psalm 32:7 and 119:114. Remember a time when you hid some place in order to escape a storm, a danger, or a trouble. Jesus is your ‘Hiding Place’. Do you know the song “You are my Hiding Place”? If so, sing it today. Run to Jesus as your Hiding Place today when you face a difficult situation.

 

24.   Isaiah 53. There are several titles for Jesus in this chapter. Focus on “Man of Sorrows” in verse 3. Even though He came to bring peace and joy, He had to become the “Man of Sorrows”. He had to be crushed and broken. He sorrowed all alone so He could bear your sorrows and pain. Thank Him today.

 

25.   Isaiah 54:5. If you are a Narnia fan, you will remember that Mr. Beaver described Aslan as “the king of the whole wood.” Well, this verse calls Jesus “the God of the whole earth”. Think of Him as the Creator of the whole universe, yet He chose to be the specific God of our Earth… for US!

 

26.   Isaiah 64:8 and Jeremiah 18:1-6. Have you ever watched a potter working on a wheel… or even tried to make a pot? Then think of Jesus as your ‘Potter’. You are the clay. You need to let Him mold you to be the vessel He has planned for you to be. Sing “Have Thine own way, Lord, Have Thine own way. Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.” If you don’t know that song, see if you can find it!

 

27.   Malachi 3:3 and 1 Corinthians 3:13-15. When gold or silver is purified it is heated and the impurities float to the top and are skimmed off. Jesus is your ‘Refiner’. He can ‘skim’ all the gross stuff from your life. Do you know the song “Refiner’s Fire”? If so, sing it. If not, see if you can listen to it. Ask Him to help you with one of your ‘impurities’ today.

 

28.   Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, Philippians 3:20, 1 Timothy 4:10, Titus 2:13. ‘Emmanuel’, ‘God with us’. What a wonderful thought! God is with me, and with you, because of Jesus!  Try to be aware of God living in you all through your day today. It will make a difference!

 

29.   Matthew 23:8 Luke 6:40, John 3:30, 2 Timothy 2:21. Something or someone will always be the ‘master’ of your life. What are some things that fight for ‘mastery’ in your life? Jesus wants to be your only ‘Master’. The more you put Him in charge the smaller you will grow… and that’s good! Others need to see Jesus in you! Do they?

 

30.   John 1:1, Genesis 1. How many times did God “speak” in the first chapter of the Bible? John chapter 1 tells us that Jesus is the ‘WORD’. He came to live among us so we could know the Father. Every day we can listen to the throb of our hearts and hear the voice which says, “God!” As we look on the amazing creation, His creatures are all saying, “God!”. Without Him there would be nothing! Wow! Think on that as you go about your day today.

 

31.   Revelation 1. Were you filled with wonder and amazement as you read those words? Did you want to fall at His feet like John did? He is “the Living One”. He was dead, but He is alive for ever and ever! He holds the keys! Let your heart be filled with awe as you worship Jesus today.