Embracing Faith 30-Day Challenge

Devotion #11

CENTRAL TRUTH: Christ does a great work through us as we surrender our lives to Him.

BIBLE PASSAGE: Romans 8:3–8

It is important to remember that we live in two worlds: one of the flesh and one of the spirit. That the spirit is more important and ultimately has all power over the flesh brings me such hope. Today’s passage explains this so well. And I John 2:16 says, “Practically everythingthat goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him” (The Message).

I find myself (more often than I would like to admit) allowing the flesh to control me. It usually plays out when I am too absorbed in myself. I want the newest gadget; I want my way; I want to be heard; etc. Interestingly enough, I will often replace the word “want” with the word “need.” But I am still only focused on myself and my wants.

We all can be selfish, but our real need is to turn everything over to God, allowing Him to decide what our real needs are and then pursuing them with everything we have.

The two worlds we live in can cause stress when the flesh takes over, but we have hope. The next time you start to use the words “I want” or “I need,” ask God if that is truly a need in your life. If it is, trust God to provide. If it is not, ask God to take the desire away so you only honor Him.

If you have not done so yet, please open your Journey Guide to the corresponding devotion in the Reading Journal section. Journal your thoughts in response to the questions found there, spend some time in prayer, and take a couple of minutes to review this week's Memory Verse.

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Today's Author

Mark Eades

My name is Mark Eades. Fredrick Buechner put my call into words when he wrote, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” From the age of 19 until now, I have tried to follow God’s lead to find where I could best share His word (my gladness) and the world’s deep hunger to young teens.

In 1991 I met my wonderful wife, Lisa Ann Burger, and in July 1993 we married. Lisa and I have three great children: Lindsey (11), Nathaniel (6), and Daniel (4). After marrying Lisa, we moved to Virginia, where I received a degree in “Religion Church Ministries Youth” in 1996 from Liberty University. In 1997, I accepted an Associate Pastor position at Faith Baptist Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. After four and a half wonderful years of ministry at Faith, I accepted my current position as the Middle School Pastor here at New Covenant and have watched God work in me to meet the world of middle schoolers’ deep hunger with my deep gladness of being with them.

Devotion #10

CENTRAL TRUTH: Christ does a great work through us as we surrender our lives to Him.

BIBLE PASSAGE: Psalm 39:4-5

As a youth, I would rarely spend time considering my mortality. When I did, it was because a school mate had lost his life in an accident or because an elderly relative had passed away after living a long life. But then I quickly forgot when other pursuits took over. That was until I first experienced a personal relationship with Jesus Christ at age 28. At that point, I had a lifetime of catching up and not enough life left to get there. This is when I began to discover the brevity of life and how valuable our time is to accomplishing God’s purposes.

In today’s passage, David expresses the shortness of life as a handbreadth or a breath. David is saying that our life in comparison to eternity is extremely short. He knows his days are numbered. He asks God what he can accomplish of any significance for God with so little time. He uses the same complaint we use today: So much to do and so little time.

Take a few minutes to review today’s passage and consider how you are spending your life. Are you accomplishing God’s purposes? Ask yourself if you are using your talents and treasures in a way that reflects your belief that your time here is short and that you understand someday you will stand before our Lord and give an account of how you used the handbreadth of life you have been given.

If you have not done so yet, please open your Journey Guide to the corresponding devotion in the Reading Journal section. Journal your thoughts in response to the questions found there, spend some time in prayer, and take a couple of minutes to review this week's Memory Verse.

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Today's Author

Mick Schultz

My name is Mick Schultz. I have been married to my awesome wife, Karen, for 24 years. We have four children: Brett, Craig, Eric and Amanda, who are truly gifts from God and of whom I could not be more proud.

I have served as the Children’s Pastor at New Covenant for five years, and my greatest joy is to see the children and those who serve the children use their talents and gifts to do ministry. I enjoy the outdoors, hunting, sports, and coaching. I also serve on the board of Fellowship of Christian Athletes in hopes of influencing coaches and athletes in Eastern Iowa to pursue a relationship with Christ.

Devotion #9

CENTRAL TRUTH: Christ entrusts to us resources of time, talents and treasures for His great work.

BIBLE PASSAGE: I Corinthians 4:1-2

As followers of Christ, we are not our own. Paul says in I Corinthians 6:19-20, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price” (NIV). The price paid for us was the shed blood of Christ on the cross. When we believe in Christ, we take ourselves off the throne of our lives and allow Christ to fill His rightful position as our ultimate authority.

Each day we need to ask ourselves whether we are on the throne or whether Christ is. With the time, talent and treasures He has given us, are we considering how He would like us to spend and use these?

When I think of treasures, I think of not only money but of sharing the good news of the Gospel with others who are lost. The Gospel is the greatest treasure known to mankind. And we need to share it and let it be known.

Christ has given us the responsibility to manage all aspects of our lives under the direction of the Holy Spirit. We are to show Him that we love Him by obeying Him.

Ask yourself if you have made the shift from thinking you are the owner of your time, talents, and treasures to realizing you are the manager of the time, talents and treasures God has given you.

If you have not done so yet, please open your Journey Guide to the corresponding devotion in the Reading Journal section. Journal your thoughts in response to the questions found there, spend some time in prayer, and take a couple of minutes to review this week's Memory Verse.

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Today's Author

Jeff Akey

My name is Jeff Akey. I am married to my Luv-Bug, Carol. We have six grown children, one grandson, and two more grandchildren on the way. I have been attending New Covenant 12 years. I am a dentist in town and have been on eight dental mission trips in the Caribbean and Central America, my latest being Guatemala at the beginning of this year. I am also on the elder board and attend Men’s Fraternity.

One little known fact about me is that I go to jail weekly. I conduct bible studies every week with the Linn County Jail chaplain. I also visit the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility twice a year for a weekend event called Brothers in Blue. One thing I know for sure is that New Covenant is absolutely chalk full of grace and mercy. I know this to be true because I am in the choir!

Devotion #8

CENTRAL TRUTH: Christ does a great work through us as we surrender our lives to Him.

BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Timothy 4:16-17

I enjoy playing saxophone a great deal. But I do not enjoy playing alone. I have noticed that my level of playing increases when I am surrounded by great talent.

In our key passage, Paul is in a Roman prison. At this point, everyone, except Luke, has deserted him. He talks about the harm that Alexander, the metalworker, had done to him. At a time when Nero was blaming Christians for the burning of Rome, Paul had to stand trial. He says in 2 Timothy 4:16 that “everyone deserted me” (NIV). So, here is Paul in prison with no one to testify on his behalf.

Would this stress you out like it would me? And although we may not find ourselves in circumstances like this, often the stresses and pressures of life can make us feel like we are in prison. Paul goes on to say in 2 Timothy 4:17 that “…the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength” (NIV). Paul’s confidence ultimately came from knowing that the Lord was his strength.

In what areas do you feel weak and even alone? You can trust God because He is truly standing at your side and will give you strength!

If you have not done so yet, please open your Journey Guide to the corresponding devotion in the Reading Journal section. Journal your thoughts in response to the questions found there, spend some time in prayer, and take a couple of minutes to review this week's Memory Verse.

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Today's Author

Tye Male

My name is Tye Male. I am the Middle Adult Pastor at New Covenant. I have the privilege of leading our small group ministry and have helped with Men’s Fraternity.

Judy and I have been married for 22 years and have four children: Andrew (20), Allyson (18), Morgan (14) and Mackenzie (10). Something that you may not know about me is that I enjoy playing and listening to big band music and currently play in two big bands in Cedar Rapids.

Devotion #7

CENTRAL TRUTH: Christ does a great work through us as we surrender our lives to Him.

BIBLE PASSAGE: Philippians 2:12-13

This is Day 7 in our 30-Day Challenge. I hope you have spent some time alone with Jesus every day. Remember, planning a specific time and location to read your Bible and to journal is a great help.

This week we are exploring embracing faith in Christ’s work through us. I don’t know about you, but I sometimes wonder why God would want to accomplish anything through me. I know my weaknesses. I know my failures. I know how great the challenges are and how powerless I feel. “God, are You sure You know what You’re doing?”

The Apostle Paul felt the same way. He labeled himself the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Yet, God did a great work through Paul’s life.

Paul gives us a clue to how this happened in his life when he wrote, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13 NLT). Paul knew that the only way he was going to do a great work for God was by God doing it through him.

My friend, God is at work in your life. He is the one who gives you the desire and power to accomplish great things for Him. Please take some time today to read Philippians 2:12-13 and journal your response to His work in your life.

If you have not done so yet, please open your Journey Guide to the corresponding devotion in the Reading Journal section. Journal your thoughts in response to the questions found there, spend some time in prayer, and take a couple of minutes to review this week's Memory Verse.

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Today's Author

Bob Westfall

My name is Bob Westfall. My “little red-haired girl” is Leesa, and we have been married for 32 years. We have two wonderful daughters, Heather and Amy, and one super son-in-law, Ryan, who is married to Heather.

Leesa and I moved to Cedar Rapids in June 2003. I began as the Middle Adult Pastor, and then God transitioned me to the Senior Pastor position at New Covenant. You may be surprised to know (or maybe not!) that I was a thespian during high school and college. In fact, I was a member of the Alpha Psi Omega national theater honor society.

Devotion #6

CENTRAL TRUTH: We embrace faith ultimately not in a plan but in the person of Jesus Christ.

BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20

We must consider a simple truth every time we look at faith: My faith is only as strong as the object in which I place my faith. The clearest everyday example of faith is when I sit down. Every time I sit in a chair, I exercise faith that the chair will support me. Will the chair support me? I can remember only one time when it did not. I remember thinking that the chair looked weak. It was, and my faith in that chair shattered to pieces.

Paul is asking a similar question of Christ and our ultimate faith in Him as Savior and Lord. Read through all the different ways Paul approaches faith in verses 12-19. His repetition helps make this critical point: If Christ can not be trusted, our faith in Him is hopeless.

In verse 20, Paul gives a resounding and confident answer. Our new life now and our hope of the life to come is secure in this certainty: Christ was raised from the dead, is God Himself and can be fully trusted. Having found this answer, our next question is “Where have I placed my trust today?” We must not place our trust in a building, program or another person. Many things can creep into that sacred place. Christ is the only one who can deliver; our trust is in Him alone.

If you have not done so yet, please open your Journey Guide to the corresponding devotion in the Reading Journal section. Journal your thoughts in response to the questions found there, spend some time in prayer, and take a couple of minutes to review this week's Memory Verse.

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Today's Author

Gary Hoobler

My name is Gary Hoobler. My wife Patsy and I have been married for going on 23 years. We have three incredible sons: David, a freshman at the University of Northern Iowa; Preston, a sophomore at Linn-Mar High School; and Ricky, a 5th grader at Indian Creek. We are also in the process of adopting a little girl from China. God continues to bless me in so many ways.

I serve as the Worship Pastor at New Covenant. While I love the arts and all they have to offer, many people don’t know that I also love to do hands-on projects around the home. There is something about swinging a hammer or using a power tool that really “trips my trigger.”

Devotion #5

CENTRAL TRUTH: We embrace faith ultimately not in a plan but in the person of Jesus Christ.

BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

As I reflect on today’s passage in light of today’s holiday, I am reminded of Valentine’s Day 1994. I was in my junior year of college and was engaged to the beautiful LeAnn Wojakowski. Our college was hosting an extravagant Valentine’s banquet, and I was ready for a memorable evening. I sent LeAnn a dozen roses, dressed up in my finest and even washed my car. I set aside the frantic pace of pursuing a music degree for one night to focus on my future wife. She was all I could think about, and my actions revealed it.

The Apostle Paul wrote in today’s key passage that when he was with the Corinthian church, he intentionally set aside all the things he could talk about with the people to focus on one thing: Jesus Christ and His crucifixion. By doing so, Paul helped the church embrace faith in Christ because of God’s power, not because of his skill.

Much thought and work have gone into the Embracing Faith campaign, but it will all be for naught if we get caught up in all the things going on in conjunction with the series. We must be like an engaged person and keep our focus on one person: Jesus Christ. When we do so, we will see God’s will accomplished through His power in us.

If you have not done so yet, please open your Journey Guide to the corresponding devotion in the Reading Journal section. Journal your thoughts in response to the questions found there, spend some time in prayer, and take a couple of minutes to review this week's Memory Verse.

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Today's Author

Erin Bird

My name is Erin Bird. You probably know me as the young adult pastor at New Covenant, where I have been on staff for almost six years now. But more important, I have been happily married to LeAnn for more than 13 years, and together we have two girls and two boys ranging in age from 10 years to 18 months.

Some things you might not know about me: I am an avid Mac user and a Nebraska Cornhusker football fan. I was a music major in college with a piano emphasis, and now I give my girls piano lessons at home. I also won a baby pageant 34 years ago, and it has been downhill ever since.

Devotion #4

CENTRAL TRUTH: We embrace faith ultimately not in a plan but in the person of Jesus Christ.

BIBLE PASSAGE: Colossians 2:6-7

One lesson I learned from today's passage is to know who I am trusting. Colossians 2:6 says, "just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him . . ." (NIV). We are on a continuing journey of faith and trust in Christ alone. Continuing to live is where I can lose focus and become confused about in whom I should put my trust.

A tree planted by water has a continuous source of nourishment. Other trees have to dig roots deep to find water. But the tree planted by water may not have deep roots; and when wind storms and drought come, it is suddenly at risk of being uprooted or withering from lack of nourishment. Like that tree, I have a tendency to put my faith in God's blessings and forget that my faith should be in God. If the tree trusts the water, a wonderful blessing, it is trusting the wrong thing. Water does not control when and where it goes, God does.

I have gone on a journey of faith and trust in Christ so that my roots go deeper in Him, just as Paul says in verse 7, "rooted and built up in Him"(NIV). Strengthening my faith in Him and realizing that God allows the trials helps me trust Him and be thankful for the blessings.

God has control over what comes our way, and we know that even the times that seem hard help us keep a proper dependence on Him.

If you have not done so yet, please open your Journey Guide to the corresponding devotion in the Reading Journal section. Journal your thoughts in response to the questions found there, spend some time in prayer, and take a couple of minutes to review this week's Memory Verse.

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Today's Author

Doug Forret

My name is Doug Forret. Amy, my lovely wife, and I have been married for 21 years, and we have three incredible daughters. Emily is a high school senior, Ariel a high school sophomore, and Sasha is in sixth grade.

I work for Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids as a Senior Project Manager. I majored in broadcasting and film in college, so I enjoy watching and discussing movies. I have attended New Covenant for almost 16 years. My family and I are planning to embark on a short-term mission trip this summer. If you see me around church, stop me and ask me about any of these topics.

Devotion #3

CENTRAL TRUTH:  We embrace faith ultimately not in a plan but in the person of Jesus Christ.

BIBLE PASSAGE:  Colossians 1:15-20

"Who does he look like?" It seems like every Sunday someone asks Melody or me this question. People assume (for good reason) that our son Andrew will look to some degree like each of us. He is his own person, yet he also is an expression of his parents.

That is Paul's point in today's passage. His description of Christ is breathtaking and comprehensive. Jesus is the tangible image of the invisible God (see also John 1:18). Take time as you read to ponder the implications of each attribute listed. Write down the one that is most meaningful for you.

Our faith is not a matter of wishful thinking. It is not based on sterile facts. Our faith is the result of us embracing a person who is more than capable of doing what He has promised.

If you have not done so yet, please open your Journey Guide to the corresponding devotion in the Reading Journal section. Journal your thoughts in response to the questions found there, spend some time in prayer, and take a couple of minutes to review this week's Memory Verse.

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Today's Author

James Wartian

My name is James Wartian. I was introduced to my wife Melody by a mutual friend, who was also her pastor, and we have been married almost six years. Last April, we had our first child, Andrew, and he has been an absolute joy (even though we do not get much sleep).

I have been on staff at New Covenant as the Mature Adult/Missions Pastor for almost four years. You might be interested to know that the very first sermon I ever preached was at Camp Hiawatha when I was a senior in high school. It had to be no longer than 3.5 minutes, and I stayed under the time limit!

Devotion #2

CENTRAL TRUTH: We embrace faith ultimately not in a plan but in the person of Jesus Christ.

BIBLE PASSAGE: John 14:1-6

Have you ever been lost? When I was 4 years old, I wandered away from my grandmother, and I tried to find my way to a doctors office several miles away. I ended up in a neighborhood all alone, lost and frightened to tears. A caring stranger recognized I was lost and drove me to the police station, where I was reunited with my grandmother.

In today’s passage, Jesus is preparing His closest followers for His departure. In a few days, He will be crucified and His body placed in a tomb. Jesus knows His disciples will feel afraid, lost and abandoned. Jesus tells His disciples to “not let their hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me” (John 14:1–2 NIV). He tells them He is going to prepare a place for them and will one day return to take them to His Father. The disciples know their final destination, but they still feel afraid. How could they ever find their way? Jesus responds to their fears, proclaiming, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV). The way is not a plan, program or set of religious rituals—it is a person. Jesus invites us to trust inHim. He is all we need.

If you have not done so yet, please open your Journey Guide to the corresponding devotion in the Reading Journal section. Journal your thoughts in response to the questions found there, spend some time in prayer, and take a couple of minutes to review this week's Memory Verse.

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Today's Author

Kim Pagel

My name is Kim Pagel, and I am the Executive Pastor at New Covenant. It is hard to believe that I have been at New Covenant for more than 16 years! That must mean I am getting old!

My wife, Sharon, and I have been married for 30 years. Sharon is a great partner and friend. We have four sons and an awesome daughter-in-law: Ryan (26) and Natalie, Jason (24), Joshua (19) and Jonathan (19). They keep us young and bring us great joy! Something you may not know about me is that I grew up in Toledo, Iowa, and knew eight of my grandparents into my adult life.