Boulder Creek Community Church

If the Devil can't make you bad, he'll make you busy! Corrie Ten Boom

This week we will take a look at some of my favorite quotes by Corrie Ten Boom. This week... "Forgiveness is setting the prisoner free only to find the prisoner was me."Matthew 6 - 12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOR EVER

Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

Today our youth pastor Stephen Mealing brings the devotion

My Cup Overflows...

You anoint my head with oil... The oil of gladness! - Oil could be used for protection- Oil could be used for healing- Oil could be used for consecrationWhat do need from God today?

You prepare a table before m in the presence of my enemies...

Psalm 23A psalm of David.1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Stephen Mealing brings us a meditation verse 3 of Psalm 23... specifically, the phrase, "His names sake".

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort meThe “rod” was also used to protect the sheep from other animals. The rod was a club about 2 feet long with a knob on the end of it about the size of one’s fist. It was used to ward off enemies such as a bear or a lion because with one quick blow you could put to death such an animal.The “rod” is also described in the book of Proverbs for discipline (Proverbs 13:24).This “rod” was the shepherd’s symbol of authority, power, discipline and protection from danger.Rod, used for discipline...This is actually a sign of love because love = discipline since the opposite of love is not hate…it is indifference. Hebrews 12:6 says “the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” The psalmist declares “Blessed is the one you discipline, LORD, the one you teach from your law” (Psalm 94:12) and “that in faithfulness you have afflicted me” (Psalm 119:75b) for surely “the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in”

“I will fear no evil… for you are with me”. This is where David stops telling us about God… and starts talking to God! When a kid has a nightmare… he wants to BE WITH his mom and dad… Jesus often withdrew to a quiet place! Why…?We have lost the art of silence and solitude… Both God in the OT and Jesus in the NT assure us that one thing we can always count on… God will be and IS with us! And He’s with us because He’s FOR us! Deuteronomy 4:7 NLT - “For what great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on him?”Jesus’ most common invitation was “Follow Me”. Come… Learn from me… be with Me… The Christian faith is 1st and foremost, is an invitation to be with Jesus! The first-century Jews had a blessing that beautifully expresses the commitment of a disciple to stay in the presence of the one he followed: “May you always be covered by the dust of your rabbi.” That is, “May you follow him so closely that the dust his feet kicks up is what cakes your clothing and line

One more day in the valley of the shadow of death... dealing with depression holistically is essential! Can may want to use it in your life, but depression is a real battle for many and we MUST learn to partner with God in fighting against it spiritually, psychologically, through good counsel, physically through sleep, diet and exercise and even physiologically through medication if needed.

I’m told there really is a valley of shadows... David probably led his sheep through the valley of the shadow of death as he was growing up. As you look in the Bible, the term “valley” also refers to all kinds of rough times in life.* Joshua talks about the Valley of Calamity* Psalm 84 talks about the Valley of Weeping* Hosea talks about the Valley of Trouble* The reference to a valley in Ps 23 in Hebrew actually means The Valley of Deep DarknessWe all experience this.... it feels like God has abandoned you. You doubt Gods love and faithfulness.... you might even begin to wonder if you did something wrong! You try praying and you get nothing... all the stuff you normally do that gets you out of the funk you’re in doesn’t work. Embrace the Darkness…. Listen to a 15th century monk named John...... God perceives the imperfections in us, and because of His love for us, urges us to grow up. His love is not content to leave us in our weakness, and for this reason he takes us into a "dark night". He weans us from

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His names sake...

The Empty Tomb

A communion Good Friday Service. We'll walk through the Last 7 Words of Jesus.1. “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” (Luke 23:34)2. “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)3. “Dear woman, here is your son.” (John 19:26)4. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)5. “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28)6. “It is finished!” (John 19:30)7. “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” (Luke 23:46)www.bccchurch.org