Colossians 1:21-22
This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

If you’ve ever shared your faith with someone, you’ve most likely heard a response when they think of themselves that they believe they’re good people. Most people say that they go to church or haven’t done anything that bad or do good things. What they think and judge sin by is based on the actions of people around them. So they don’t think of themselves as that bad. But what they need to understand (and this is key) is that outside of Christ, we sin because the very nature inside of us is corrupt. In God’s Word, the very heart of someone is referred to as the mind, and in today’s verse we see that before Christ, our minds were completely against Him. The beautiful thing about God’s Work in us is that as believers, He’s given us a new mind. We have been sent out by Christ to walk in His plan for us, and He wants us to learn of Him daily and be renewed in that mind. Ask God to help you see today something new based on His mind in you, and ask Him to show you how to respond based on that.

Extra time in the Word Colossians 1

Monday, September 28th
Written by Kyle Shultz

Matthew 26:39
He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

It’s easy to think that because Jesus was perfect that He didn’t have any struggles. This prayer says otherwise. Do you see what He’s asking? He’s saying that He’s afraid of what He knows is going to happen. It’s a very common thought that Satan was in the garden at this time even though it’s not recorded. Even though Jesus was fully God, He was 100% man. Because He was man, He learned what it meant to be obedient to God. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true. It didn’t mean He had any form of disobedience in Him, but as a man He experienced what it meant to follow the Father and how that related to us. Because He was man He was tempted. It’s not a bad thing to be tempted because it’s through the temptation we have the opportunity to learn as Jesus did what it means to lean on the Father and practice obedience. It’s because Jesus went through His atoning work and temptations that He can relate with us and walk us through them. Even though it hurts at times, we can lean on Jesus the same way that He leaned on God.

Extra time in the Word Matthew 26

Sunday, September 27th
Written by Janet Scott

Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Typically in the Spring a LOT of women get the urge to do some “Spring Cleaning”. I am learning that this is actually necessary to do several times a year spiritually. Stop and think for a minute – what garbage are you storing that you could let go of , maybe it is your hurt, or a grudge, someone you just can’t seem to forgive, or maybe it’s you, is there something you can’t forgive yourself for? The cost of our unwillingness to let go of these things are overwhelming! The longer you hang on and want to “lick the wound” the more misery you bring on yourself! Trust me, I am chief at killing myself over something I can do nothing about and just hanging on to the hope that someday by my putting myself through the misery of wishing the other person would get it together I am totally miserable and the other person doesn’t change, probably never will and they have no clue I am a mess over it! Who and what is worth all of that?! No one and nothing is worth missing out on the good in our lives for. What you hold on to is ACTUALLY holding on to you and Satan will use every opportunity he can to use that to defeat you by replaying it over and over in your mind! So, I would encourage you to go through your spiritual inventory and ask yourself: Who is really paying the price for me to hang on to my unwillingness to forgive? How can I benefit by letting go of the past and living in the present, recognizing all of the wonderful things God is doing right here, right now instead of hanging on to being miserable? Tell yourself today, “today I am letting go of the past, I choose to forgive others that have done me wrong and I choose to forgive myself!” Claim the victory and move on! Prepare to watch new growth unfold in your life.

Extra time in the Word Ephesians 4

Saturday, September 26th
Written by Kyle Shultz

Ephesians 1:4
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

Something like this is beyond us because we can only see things through time. The first promise ever given to mankind of the promise of redemption after the fall of man in Genesis 3:15. This was right after Adam and Eve sinned. But what God revealed to Paul was that Jesus was prepared to sacrifice Himself before creation. Wow! On top of that, God knew that we would embrace the gift of Christ and because of that He prepared for us to be set apart for His purpose. You are not just a common person. Even though we may feel ordinary because we have the same struggles as many others do, God has set us apart. Thank Him for that.

Extra time in the Word Ephesians 1

Philippians 4:11
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

“Your life would be perfect if……..” We can all fill in the blank on that one! Paul learned the key to living in his present life and not waiting for things to get better in order to enjoy it. When we feel like something has to change in order for us to have a “perfect life” we miss out on so many opportunities to make our lives better. If our focus is on what we don’t have instead of being grateful for ALL God has, is and will be doing in our lives we are trying to live outside our present life. Stop for a minute right now and think of 10 things you can be grateful for, like a roof over your head, food to eat, clothes to wear, friends and or family that you can count on, maybe your dog or cat, how about that perfect sunset or banana split!? We do have things to be grateful for and sometimes we get so wrapped up in how perfect things would be if we could just change this or get rid of that or have that, that somehow we miss out and we never end up making the changes in ourselves to be able to enjoy a better life.

If you are depressed or are in an addictive or abusive situation I would encourage you to find help. If you don’t know where to look please email us at helpme@xtrlive.com and give us a brief idea of what is going on and how to contact you so we can help you find the help or church you need in your area. Don’t hesitate, it is time to make the changes necessary to get you started enjoying your life now!

Extra time in the Word Philippians 4

1 John 3:21
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

It’s really easy to look at this verse and think that if we feel God with us, we’re ok. I don’t know about you, but I’ve gone through times where about 6 days a week I didn’t feel like a Christian and the day I was “supposed to act” like one I felt like a fake. The reason I struggled with my salvation for such a long time was my feelings were telling me I didn’t match up. The key to walking in a new heart free in Christ is by placing your confidence in what Christ has made you, and not in your own abilities. What John is saying here is that the confidence in God sets you free from the condemning spirit of the sin nature that we struggle with. Our victory is focused on the Christ who set us free, not the sin that previously held us bound.

Extra time in the Word 1 John 3

Wednesday, September 23rd
Written by Kyle Shultz

Proverbs 27:7
A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

Why do people stay in relationships that are clearly unhealthy? Why do peers in school look to people who fit a so-called mode of perfection and allow them to walk over them? I believe the reason why anyone goes to something that hurts them is because they are trying to fill a void and they’ll take anything as long as it brings them a sense of acceptance. What we can find in the proverb today is that we need to be careful in where we are find value. We as believers have Christ in us, and when we are walking in Him, we won’t find any pleasure in a substitute, even if it looks sweet like honey. If you’re holding onto something that you know in your heart you shouldn’t, claim the freedom in Christ and let it go. He will awaken a need for Him that He will fill. Don’t settle for anything less than Him and His plan for you.

Extra time in the Word Proverbs 27

Ephesians 5:1
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery! I remember trying to convince my girls of that when they were in elementary and someone would copy their hair cut or clothes and somehow they didn’t agree. BUT, to God it is not only flattery but obedience. Jesus was here not only to die on the cross although of course that was the ultimate thing, but He was here for our example. He was here to teach us how to live! We need to imitate him in our attitude toward God as well as showing His love toward others. Jesus was well known for how He reached out to the down and out and how He protected and loved children. He genuinely cared about the sick and hurting. He didn’t push away the sinner that was down and out He reached out to help. How often do you think we each miss an opportunity to show the love of Christ to someone on a daily basis and I mean genuinely showing it not some fake imitation!? I think we miss out a lot. I have started praying every day that God will show me the opportunities to be more like Him, to show the love of God to someone so I don’t miss it!

Extra time in the Word Ephesians 5

Monday, September 21st
Written by Kyle Shultz

1 John 2:27
But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

The Apostle John was writing this passage as a warning of the antichrists in the world. If you’ve ever read the Left Behind books, you know that one of the main characters is Nicolae Carpathia. He is the picture of the main antichrist in the book of Revelation. Nicolae is controlled by Satan himself and gains control of the entire world and leads them astray from Christ to a sealed doom. We as believers know that there will be one day an antichrist such as Nicolae portrayed in this book series. However we need to be reminded that John is saying that there are many antichrists in the world today. No, they aren’t possessed by Satan, and they can’t shake your calling in Christ. But what they want to do is stray you from following Him by seducing you with a false substitute which appeals to our natural nature. The way that we fight this is by embracing the anointing (Holy Spirit) in our lives. The beautiful thing about the Holy Spirit is that if you have received Christ, you’ve got this anointing and you are fully capable because of this anointing to stand on Christ in a world that needs us to shine. Take advantage of any and every opportunity to focus on Christ, through spending time in His Word, prayer, godly friends, and let Him take you deeper in Him.

Extra time in the Word Revelation 1