Baypointe Lifecast
News & Happenings of Baypointe Church

Deep – Day 36

Day 36 – Protect this House!

The slogan of the popular sporting apparel company Under Armor is “Protect this House!” The hope in this advertising campaign is that the customer will feel that they are some how more safe and secure when they are wearing the Under Armor product. It promises to wick away moisture from your body in an effort to enhance your comfort and performance. It should bring you great comfort to know that as believers, we are safe and secure because God has promised to protect us. His covering wicks away the sting of the cares and troubles of this world. God does not provide Under Armor, He provides “Ultimate Armor!” His word is truth, His provision is sufficient, and His love is unconditional. Not to mention, He always protects His house and His people!

Romans 8:31 

 ³¹What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Pray – Ask God to constantly remind you of his love and provision. In an uncertain world, God is the one “constant” that we can lean on and trust. Thank Him for this. May God’s attributes be a source of hope and confidence for you each day.

 Reflect – What is the value in feeling secure in Christ’s provision. What comfort do you find in today’s passage of scripture?

Deep – Day 35

Day 35- Ambush your leaders with encouragement today!

All of us need encouragement. Those who lead believers are certainly no different. They possess many attributes that may be a blessing to you. Today you need to share this with them. Build them up and share with them what an impact they make each week. Often times leading is a thankless job. Leaders don’t lead in order to receive accolades, but a pat on the back every once in a great while or an “atta boy” certainly brings encouragement! If you have a key leader in the church that is a special blessing to you, use today to let them know.

  1 Timothy 5:17

 ¹⁷The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

Pray – Ask God to reveal to you who needs a special “thank you” for their ministry to you or your family. Pray specifically for that person and their family today as well!

Reflect – In what ways can you honor your leaders? How have Godly leaders influenced your life in the past?

Deep – Day 34

Day 34 – “Why yes, yes I am saved,” whispered the man unconvincingly.

For many of us, we struggle with sharing our faith. Maybe it’s because of the whack jobs that have given the gospel a bad name. God may not be calling you to turn your car into a “scripture mobile” with bible verses all over it. You may not feel the need or conviction to grow a beard and long hair like Jesus. (This would be especially disturbing if you are a female) You may not even feel led to purchase a bible that is the size of your coffee table. (Coffee stains will not come out of leather)However, God has called each one of us to stand up and proclaim the power of the cross in our lives. Why? Simply put, it is the proclamation of the gospel that brings people to Christ! The story of the gospel is both powerful and riveting! Stand up and be counted today! Allow God to use you to share the good news!

Romans 1:16 

 ¹⁶I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Pray – Ask God to make you a courageous believer. One who will stand up and be counted for the sake of the cross. Ask God to help you not shy away from opportunities to proclaim the goodness of God and His love for all!

Reflect – What are some legitimate ways you can flesh out Romans 1:16? How has God used your boldness in the past to effect life change? Did someone step out and share with you in order for you to come to Christ? If so share the impact and means of that encounter.

Deep – Day 33

Day 33 – Reporting for duty sir!

You are called to serve! Who are you to serve? Mankind! The world, your community, and your neighborhood should top your list! Far too many believers suffer from spiritual atrophied muscle syndrome. We do not exercise our muscles of service to the world. Now we volunteer in a ministry or help when needed, but that is only scratching the surface. When was the last time that you met the need of “one of the least of these?” When was the last time you met the need of someone whom you knew could never be of use to you? This is what Christ’s ministry was all about, meeting the needs of the “cast- offs “of society. Ministering to those who were down and out and close to death was the hallmark of the calling of Jesus. How about your calling?  What does that mean today? For each of us it may mean something different. True service embodies sacrifice, makes us uncomfortable, and pushes us beyond the box of the norm. Go serve others as Jesus did! 

 Matthew 25

³⁴“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

 ³⁷“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

 ⁴⁰“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Mark 10:45 

⁴⁵For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Pray – God help me to serve others. Help me do it as unto You. Move me from my comfort zone and use me to meet the needs of those who are in desperate need of You and your love! May others see You through my actions as I serve others for your name sake.

Reflect – What are some practical ways that you and your family can embody true biblical service? Consider serving meals at a shelter, or delivering goods to a homeless camp. Ask God to open doors for His son Jesus to be glorified through your obedience to serve. Have you done this in the past.

Deep -Day 32

Day 32 – Don’t be a hater, be an imitator!

It has been said that imitation is the ultimate form of flattery. Who do you most often imitate? Are the characteristics of the imitation fragrant or do they stink? We have to be cautious when we pattern our lives after someone or something. We have to be certain that God will be pleased with our actions. Role models are good. However, role models will fail. It is all too common to turn on the news and see yet another figure that has been idolized by thousands, taking a fall. Be careful who you pattern your life after!  You’re always safe with God!

Ephesians 5:1-2 

 ¹Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children ²and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Pray – Ask God to help you pattern your life after Him. God, help me to put no man on a pedestal. I want to imitate You in my relationships with others. Help me to model my mirror your character in all I do.

Reflect – What adjustments need to be made in regards to whom you think highly of? How does God’s character reveal how we should act daily? How did Jesus model this for us while on earth?

Deep – Day 31

Day 31 –  God, is that You?

We all live in a fast paced society. We frequent drive-thru’s, use microwaves, demand high-speed internet and scoff at the notion of waiting more than 30 seconds at a traffic light. We are bombarded with the busyness of life as we rush from soccer practice to dance to scouts and back to school for Johnny’s band practice and on and on and on… SLOW DOWN! We scamper through the day without ever hearing the voice of God. It just may be because we are simply too busy to even listen for it. “Doing” does not equate to success. Doing more, but missing out on our time with God is a dangerous habit to form. Be still and listen for Him today!

Psalm 46:10 

¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God;
       I will be exalted among the nations,
       I will be exalted in the earth.”

John 10:27 

⁷My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Pray – Ask God to increase your sensitivity to the voice of God. Ask the Lord to help you find those times of “stillness” through out your day! God I know there is a difference in hearing and listening. Help me not only to hear, but to listen to You. Help me to follow You all the days of my life.

Reflect – Have you ever gone a long period of time and suddenly realized it had been quite some time since you had “heard” from God? How did you feel? How can you keep that from occurring often? How does it feel when you do slow down and seek the voice of God?

Deep – Day 30

Day 30 – Love… exciting and new, come aboard, were expecting you!!!

One of the greatest story lines in television and movies has to be love! One of the greatest shows of all time that embodied this was The Love Boat! However, a cruise ship full of people looking for love and romance can be a dangerous place. Feelings can get hurt, people can be misunderstood, and this all made for good t.v., but not in real life! In the real world, God has commanded us to love each other. He goes on to say that this is how the world will know that we are truly Christ-followers. Would your friends or co-workers be able to determine that you were a believer based on how you show your love for others? God tells us to love in the same way that He loved us. Now that’s a tall order, but through the power of the Holy Spirit it can be done!

John 13:34-35

 ³⁴“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Pray – Ask God to help you love others like never before! Ask Him to give you a heart for others so that the world can see Him inside of You!

Reflect – How can you show the love of Christ in a crazy world! For you guys, how do you respond to a culture who says real men don’t love anything? For ladies, how can you demonstrate this love in the midst of cliques and tight circles of friendship without being offensive?

Deep – Day 29

Day 29 – Respond to that friend request!

All of the Face Book fans out there will appreciate this challenge. How many times have you checked your page only to run across that one friend whom you shunned in High School? Oh you weren’t blatant about it, you just chose to conveniently ignore them. They didn’t belong in your crowd, or maybe they simply didn’t measure up to your expectations. So what now? Do you respond to their “friend” request and hope for the best or do you continue to ignore them? I’m so glad that God decided to “friend” us, aren’t you? In spite of the fact that we didn’t measure up, He still forged a relationship with us. The best news is that with God, there is no “unfriend” feature. Once you’re His, you’re His! So thank God for His friendship and be a Godly friend to others today!

James 2:23 (New International Version)

²³And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”^[a] and he was called God’s friend.

Pray – Ask God for innovative ways to be a friend to those who need that special relationship. Ask God to help become a better friend to those at work, school and in your neighborhood.

Reflect – How has God gifted you to be a friend to those in need? What are some ways that you can “friend” others in your daily life? List some benefits of Godly friendship.

Deep – Day 28

Day 28 – Roll with it baby!

We all have been immeasurably impacted by the resurrection of Christ! The stone was rolled away to reveal an empty tomb! What an event! God is still in the stone removal business. I’m not talking kidney or gall here, I’m talking about the huge stone that is blocking you from being all God wants you to be. We all have stones, boulders, and various other objects hurled onto our path. The same God that rolled away the stone from the tomb of Christ, can roll away the stone that is blocking your path today! It’s all in a day’s work for God! So don’t worry, enlist the services of God today to clear your path. He’ll do for you what He did for His son!

 Mark 16:4 

 ⁴But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away

Pray – Ask God to move that obstacle that is in your way! Thank you Lord for moving that stone for me. Just as you did for Jesus, I ask that you would remove any  and all obstacles that would hinder my walk with you!

Reflect – Has God done this for you in the past? How has that affected your walk with Him. List some stones that need to be rolled away. Be sure to re-visit this page later in the challenge to record how God come through for you!