s3. · Web viewThe forty days mirror the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, preparing for His ministry, and being tempted by Satan. The idea is to fast to help you to enter into a

Hey Nova!

November is here! How has the campaign journey been for you? I’ve seen my own vision for what God wants to do through us as a church expand considerably. I’ve been led to look outside of our Nova bubble to try to really see the neighborhood around us. And I’ve begun to look differently at all of you. As our vision and mission expand, the need for every gift and every ability and every personality becomes more and more obvious to me.

This month, as we focus on Discernment, I want to invite you to open yourself up to God, trusting him to bring you to a new level of faith. Put aside a little extra time each day to be quiet, to get to know the voice of God. Get in the habit of asking God questions; write down the things you sense he might be answering. Invite God to dream with you, to plan with you, and at some point you will realize that he has actually invited you to dream and plan with Him.

One more thing: God hasn’t designed us to do all of this listening, questioning, dreaming and planning alone! I want to challenge each of us to reach out to one another and pray together. Find a friend or a group that you can open up with, asking them to walk with you throughout whatever life is giving you right now. And offer that gift back to them.

With Love,

Amy Martin

Sunday, October 29

Is it God?

William Barry and William Connolly share this helpful criterion for discerning whether an experience is of God: Compare it to another experience that you are sure is of God. Do the two conflict in any way? If so, what is different, and which of the two are you going to accept as from God? “Many people have a touchstone experience of God. Any other experience that seems to run counter to that touchstone they look upon with suspicion. God can be so manifestly present to them during such a touchstone experience that they cannot doubt it any more than they can doubt their own existence.”

This is not to say that every time you experience God’s presence, voice, or guidance you will have the same emotional response or the same level of external confirmation. The point of assessing these “touchstone experiences” is to get to know the qualities of God’s ways of acting and speaking to you personally.

Monday, October 30

James 1:5. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

Have you ever come across a situation where you can’t seem to settle on the correct answer? How do you typically go about making the final decision? The Lord says that all we need to do is ask for wisdom and He will give it to us. When we cry out for wisdom, the Lord will give it to us because He is generous and gracious. He wants us to be fully reliant on and trusting in Him, and the humility to ask for guidance is a clear sign that we believe we cannot do it on our own. There are various times throughout the Bible where the Lord calls us to ask him for the right answer and trust that he will find and provide it. I don’t know what your current circumstances are, but I do know we can always be praying that the Lord gives us wisdom and discernment to act according to His word and His plans each and every day.

Lord, give us wisdom. Allow us to humbly accept our limitations and rely on Your great power and wisdom. Amen

--Lance Capel

Tuesday, October 31

Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

No one has to convince us that we live in ominous times. Insanity seems to be everywhere. In all that chaos and insanity we are constantly called to make discerning decisions: on truth and falsehood, fake and true news, good and bad movies or tv shows, and even how much to give by faith to the Open Campaign of Nova Community Church.It is into that chaotic environment that God gives us some practical advice in Proverbs 3:5-6 that is key in making discerning decisions.

1. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart”--bet your life on God’s truth and wisdom.

2. “Lean not on your own understanding”--give up trying to figure out everything on your own.

3. “In all your ways acknowledge him”--make God a vital part of everything you do.

Notice that the word all appears twice. God can’t stand half-heartedness (see Revelation 3:15-17). He wants our trust and acknowledgment to be wholehearted. He wants all. When the all is in place in our daily lives, God gives this promise: “[I] will make your paths straight.” A life of straight paths means peace and calm when there is turmoil and chaos around us. His path is “living a life beyond amazing” (Dr. David Jeremiah’s descriptive term).

Dear Heavenly Father, there are times when the turmoil all around me and sometimes in my personal life cause me to say, “Lord, I don’t understand.” Help my faith. Help me to follow Your path to a peaceful and calm life--a life that is beyond amazing. In Your precious Name I pray, Amen.

--Ron Graff

Wednesday, November 1

Hebrews 5:11-14. We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Just as an infant is trained to grow beyond drinking milk to eating solid foods, so too must a Christian’s spiritual maturity grow through a process of effort and experiences. Spiritual maturity doesn’t have anything to do with age, but more in developing the ability to put our faith to practical use and sharing that faith with others. As we mature we learn from and use our greatest tool, the Word of God, to aid us in our discernment and understanding of who God is. The end result is a person who can distinguish between good and evil. Our discernment can only be as good as our understanding of God’s Word and His ways.

We can grow if we do not become ‘dull’ in responding to opportunities to learn and understand more of God’s Word. How is your path to learning? Are you ok with being content sitting around drinking only milk and not wanting to move on to solid foods? Imagine if an NFL football player drank only milk all the time; I’m sure he would not last very long in a Sunday night football game.

Accept the challenge! Move on, grow and feast on the solid food of God’s Word so you can be ready to play in the big game. Listen to God, understand His Word and put into practice His principles that you read in the bible. When we do this we will be able to tell others the good news of who Christ is in our lives!

Lord, thank you for your Word and your will in my life, help me not to be content to drink only milk but to feast on these words so I may have the ability to discern what is good and what is evil. Lay these words on my heart so I can grow and share you with others.

--Jackie Austel

Thursday, November 2

Ephesians 5:15-17. Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

It’s difficult to not be distracted by the things and ideologies of this world, particularly in a society that tells you to do “whatever feels good” and whatever is “best for you”. The lines can become blurred between what is good or allowable and what is best, especially when something may not be inherently evil. For those of us who follow Christ, we’ve been given incredible tools to help us make wise decisions and to understand the will of God. When Jesus ascended to heaven, He did not leave us empty-handed or without direction; instead, God gave us His Word and His Spirit so we can know and understand Him and His will better.

As believers, we have the assurance of being able to go to the Lord in any and every situation. When trying to determine God’s will or faced with life’s challenges and decisions, no matter how big or small, seek the Lord through prayer and supplication, and turn to scripture. His Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and true. It does not change, just as He Himself does not change. Although we are not able to see the bigger picture the way God does, He has given us access to His will through scripture and the Holy Spirit. We need to make the most of every opportunity given to us to check that our thoughts, actions, words, and desires align with His.

Father, help me to look to your Word and to trust in Your Spirit for guidance. Protect me from buying into the views of this world that will lead me astray and never provide full satisfaction. Help me to use the tools you have given me to discern and follow Your will.

--Natalie Pitman

Friday, November 3

Galatians 5:22-23. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

When it comes time to make a big decision, many people wonder how they can be sure they are choosing according to God’s will. If you genuinely desire God’s will, you can be sure that the Holy Spirit will help you and guide you. The evidence that the Spirit is present in your decisions is the presence of peace. Sometimes that peace is like a deep well: at the surface of your heart and mind is the tumult of feelings, and thoughts of pros and cons that are part of the context of the choice before you, while the peace lies down deep. If you press in--through prayer and fasting, worship and praise, times of silence and times of weighing the options--a moment of clarity will come. There will be a time ripe with peace and joy, or perhaps peace and tears, and you will know (in the unique way that you know things) that this is the right decision. Perhaps it is a call to love another, or a call to be faithful where you are at, or a call to be self-controlled, or an invitation to step out in faith. Make a note of what you experience during this time and the decision you make. Tell it to an impartial friend so that they can encourage you and remind you later on why you made this important choice. Because, inevitably, God will allow the peace to leave you. And then, during those times of anxiety, fear, and doubt, it is so important that you stand firm in the decision you made. “If my decision was made prayerfully and in peace, I should never change it while in turmoil or depressed or discouraged.” (Thomas Green, Weeds Among the Wheat) This is the most important rule for making good decisions. When you experience dread, confusion, or regret, reach through the fog to the memory of the clarity you once possessed. Remind yourself why you made the decision, and stick with it.

Father, thank you that you have given me the Holy Spirit to guide me into your best path for my life. You haven’t left me as an orphan, but delight in me as a Father of an adult child. Help me to truly desire your will, your values, and your mission in the world above all else so that I can make every decision with your help and your peace.

--Amy Martin

Saturday, November 4

Matthew 4:1. Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

The first act of the Spirit in Jesus’ ministry was to lead him into the wilderness and to expose him to Satan’s testings. Under the Spirit’s leading Jesus prepared himself for this testing by fasting. “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days . . .” The Spirit of God willed that the Son of God be tested on his way into the ministry, and he willed that Jesus triumph in this testing through fasting. It must not go unnoticed that Jesus triumphed over the great enemy of his soul and our salvation through fasting.

It seems to me that this story should shake us. Here is Jesus, standing on the threshold of the most important ministry in the history of the world. On his obedience and righteousness hangs the salvation of the world. None will escape damnation without this ministry of obedient suffering and death and resurrection. And God wills that, at the very outset, this ministry be threatened with destruction—namely, the temptations of Satan to abandon the path of lowliness and suffering and obedience. And of all the hundreds of things Jesus might have done to fight off this tremendous threat to salvation, he is led, in the Spirit, to fast.

If Satan had succeeded in deterring Jesus from the path of humble, sacrificial obedience, there would be no salvation. We would still be in our sins and without hope. Therefore, we owe our salvation, in some measure (not to overstate it), to the fasting of Jesus. This is a remarkable tribute to fasting. Don’t pass over this quickly. Think on it. Jesus began his ministry with fasting. And he triumphed over his enemy through fasting. And our salvation was accomplished through perseverance by fasting.

--John Piper, A Hunger For God

Sunday, November 5

Making a Choice

When making a decision, it’s always a good idea to start with logic: gather information, weigh the pros and cons, get advice from those with knowledge and experience, search the scriptures. But what if you are still stuck? You need to tap into your heart—your emotions, desires and imagination—as you are guided by the Spirit. Many Christians have found Ignatius of Loyola’s spiritual exercises helpful in discernment. The following are just three of his ideas.

Ignatius’ imaginative exercises for use in times of decision-making:

1. Imagine someone coming to you, asking for advice about the same decision you are facing. What advice would you give them?

2. Imagine yourself on your deathbed. Looking back on your life, what choice would you wish you would have made?

3. Imagine standing before God after you die and giving Him an account of your life. What decision would you wish you would have made?

You might think, as I have often thought, ‘That’s too easy! It’s obvious what I would like to have chosen! But it doesn’t help with the real life obstacles and limitations I am facing right now!’ This is precisely the point of these exercises; they help you distance yourself from your current situation, bringing perspective and clarity. Knowing the decision you would like to make can help you dream and plan creatively, strategically, and faith-fully.

--Amy Martin

Monday, November 6

James 3:13-17. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.

James mentions four sources of wisdom from which I can obtain knowledge:

Earthly – worldly – from other people – the constant barrage of communicated suggestions which hit me from every angle from people, books, newspapers, radio, television, etc. Bit by bit they push, press, chisel and invade until I am conformed into a composite of their messages. We should test every message by the Bible’s standards. The Bible warns, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” (Col. 2:8)

Unspiritual – sensual – the part of me that is controlled by my senses. The Bible tells us “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9)What I feel and what I think don’t always line up with God’s word.

Demonic – of the devil – from the enemy – Satan is known as the Father of lies. He comes to steal, kill and destroy, but he comes disguised as an angel of light. He is subtle, planting seeds of doubt, “Did God really say…” (ex. Gen. 3:1), twisting scripture, causing confusion. The Bible commands us to “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1).

Sometimes it is difficult to discern which source of wisdom is influencing me. James teaches that I can identify and discern the source of wisdom by what it produces. Bitter envying, strife, confusion, fear, and every evil

work are always the input of Satan’s kingdom – not from God above (2 Tim. 1:7).

The only wisdom we can trust comes from God. It is pure and always ready to help people. It is fair and honest, full of mercy and good fruit. God gives us this wisdom generously. Just ask! (James 1:5)

Lord God, as we align our thinking with your word, please renew our minds so we will know your good, pleasing and perfect will. (Rom. 12:2)

--Laurie Griffin

Tuesday, November 7

Matthew 19:16-22. Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”“Which ones?” he inquired.Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Do you have an eternal perspective? First of all, what does it even mean to have an eternal perspective? Francis Chan has a wonderful way of explaining this: He takes a very long rope and stretches it out across the stage on which he is preaching. After he stretches it as far as it can go he then takes a red sharpie and puts a small dot on the rope. The dot represents your life now here on Earth; the rest of the rope represents (a fraction) of eternity. Meditate on that image. Your lifetime seems pretty insignificant, doesn’t it? That is not to say your life now is insignificant, but rather the length of time of your life on this Earth is rather small in comparison to eternity. So what does your life on this Earth consist of? Take a moment of introspection and truly ask yourself, “Do I fill my life with things of eternal consequence? Am I using the resources God has blessed me with to make a difference for His Kingdom? Does my time revolve solely around myself, or do I make time to serve others?” In light of how vast and significant eternal life is, it can only put our life now in perspective.

Father, I confess that sometimes, maybe even a lot of the time, my perspective is not focused on you and advancing your Kingdom and I ask for forgiveness. In light of that, please help me to align my heart with yours more fully and help me to fill my life with things that have true meaning, advancing your Kingdom in whatever form that takes. Amen.

--Garrett Koch


Malachi 3:7-12. “Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’“You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

What are you withholding from God, and how might that be preventing you from experiencing the abundance he has for you?What the Israelites were withholding from God were their tithes and best offerings. They viewed God as a God of scarcity rather than a God of abundance and provision. They had forgotten the promises God had already given them. God was not satisfied with that because it meant they weren’t fully trusting him and giving him control. God desires to give us good gifts and bless us with abundance beyond what we could imagine. However, when we don’t allow God to have access over all of our lives, we miss out on the blessings he wants to bring to us, our families, our friends and our community.

What are you withholding from God? Is there an area in your life where you have more control than God? What is preventing you from experiencing the abundance God has for you?

Father God, help us to trust and remember your promises. Forgive us for the areas we’ve withheld from you. Show us what it looks like to live in the abundance of your love for us.

--Coral Taluban


“Let the man who would hear God speak, read the Holy Scriptures… The Holy Spirit himself, Christ Jesus our Savior, and God the Creator of all things, is the Author of this book.”

“The Bible is the proper book for all people. There, the truth is distinguished from error far more clearly than anywhere else. For some 28 years now, I have read through the Bible twice each year and preached constantly from God’s Word. Yet, I have not exhausted it, but find something new in it every day.” Martin Luther, circa 1517-1547

How is your hearing? How about your vision? How’s your energy level these days?As our physical bodies age, we tire more easily and become less able to hear and see clearly. It’s frustrating, but it’s normal. However, as children of God, that process is reversed! Our hearing of His voice, our vision and discernment, and our spiritual vitality can, and should, improve as we age! How? Practice these three exercises every day: 1. Draw close to our God through reading His Word. 2. Pray--take advantage of your access to God through prayer and meditation on His Word. 3. Obey--that means doing what God tells you to do! You’ll hear His voice and see with discernment what His will is for you! Then, just do it! He will supply the wisdom, the words, and the power to get His will done! When you walk with Jesus, you can go anywhere!

Lord, open my heart to receive your Word today.

-- Rick D’Amico

Friday, November 10

Isaiah 11:2-3. And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. He will delight in obeying the LORD. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay.

This Chapter in Isaiah is a prophecy about Jesus. It walks through the fact that the Spirit will be in the Christ and some of the positive attributes that come with having the Spirit. The verse continues with the knowledge that Christ will not judge by what he hears or sees alone but with Righteousness.

To me this verse is an important reminder to be filled with the Spirit and to filter what we perceive through Him. I tend to be quick to judge. I decide what I think based on what is right in front of me. Unfortunately that’s not a great way to do things.

We all need to be continually asking the Spirit to be coming over us, to give us wisdom and understanding. Without the Spirit it’s hard to live a life that reflects Jesus.

Take some time and reflect on whether you are leaning on the Spirit for wisdom or are relying only on yourself. Are you judging with your own sinful heart or with the Spirit in righteousness?

God I pray that you continually remind me to rest on you and your Spirit for wisdom and discernment in my life. I pray that the Spirit leads me daily in the ways that are right, that he leads me through righteousness. Amen.

--Kat Whiteside


Matthew 4:2-11. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Now to see the fuller meaning of this, we must look at the book of Deuteronomy. Each time Jesus responded to the three temptations of the devil in the wilderness he quoted from Deuteronomy. “Man does not live by bread alone” (Deuteronomy 8:3); “You shall not put theLord your God to the test” (Deuteronomy 6:16); “It is the Lord God you shall fear. Him shall you serve and by his name you shall swear” (Deuteronomy 6:13). This is very significant. Here is Jesus led by the Spirit into the wilderness— mark this, the wilderness—and to counter the temptations of Satan, Jesus quotes passages from Deuteronomy, all of which are spoken by Moses to the people of Israel about their time of testing in the wilderness. Matthew 4:3–4 says, “The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’”

Now compare Deuteronomy 8:2–3, and notice the parallels between that situation in the wilderness and Jesus’ situation in the wilderness. Moses says to the people,

And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness [note: as

Jesus was led by the Spirit in the wilderness], that he might humble you, testing you [note: as Jesus was “tested”] to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger [note: as Jesus was made hungry by his fasting] and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord [note: just as Jesus says to Satan].

There are too many similarities between what is happening to Jesus here in the wilderness and what happened to the people of Israel to think it is a mere coincidence. God is teaching us something here. The Spirit of God led Jesus into the wilderness. What does this mean?It means that Old Testament shadows are being replaced with New Testament reality. It means that something greater than Moses and the wilderness and the Law and Joshua and the Promised Land is at stake here. It means that the time of fulfillment is at hand. The promise toMoses is coming true. “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen” (Deuteronomy 18:15). It means that God is now, with the incarnation of his Son, preparing to deliver his people—the new Israel—from the Egyptian bondage of sin into the Promised Land of forgiveness and righteousness and eternal life. To do this he has sent a new Moses, or in this case, a new Joshua (Jesus reenacts both roles, and the name “Jesus” is identical to “Joshua” in New Testament Greek). This new Joshua stands as the head and representative of the whole new people that Jesus will gather from Jews and Gentiles. On their behalf Jesus will now be led by the Spirit into the wilderness. He will stay forty days to represent forty years. He will be tested as Israel was tested. And he will hunger as Israel hungered. And if he triumphs, he and all his people go safely into the Promised Land of forgiveness and eternal life.

--John Piper, A Hunger For God

Sunday, November 12

Thoughts from John Piper on why we should fast:

Fasting helps keep us from turning gifts into gods. God wills to know the actual, lived-out reality of our preference for him over all things. And he wills that we have the testimony of our own authenticity through acts of actual preference of God over his gifts.

Fasting lets us begin to discover what our spiritual resources are.Humbly and quietly, with scarcely a movement, fasting brings up out of the dark places of my soul the dissatisfactions in relationships, the frustrations of the ministry, the fears of failure, the emptiness of wasted time. Will I find spiritual communion with God sweet enough, and hope in his promises deep enough, not just to cope, but to flourish and rejoice in him? Or will I rationalize away my need to fast and retreat to the medication of food?

Fasting reveals the measure of food’s mastery over us—or television or computers or whatever we submit to again and again to conceal the weakness of our hunger for God.

Monday, November 13

Acts 13:2-3. One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

In the first seven chapters of the book of Acts, Luke records that the Gospel goes out to the Jews; chapters 8-12 are about transitioning the Gospel message from Jews to Gentiles; and the last sixteen chapters are about the Gospel among the Gentiles. In chapter 13 we read how the Holy Spirit completes the ministry transition and this begins a major shift of mission focus.

I think it is notable and interesting that prayer and fasting is mentioned two times in these two verses. In verse 2 we read about prayer (worshiping) and fasting as the Holy Spirit gives verbal direction to the leaders of the church at Antioch. In verse 3 the Antioch leaders pray and fast again and send Barnabas and Saul on mission to the Gentiles.

Throughout the New Testament, we read many accounts of God’s people praying and fasting during times of intense ministry and decision-making.

As the people called Nova Community Church enter into this season of mission alignment and focus to OPEN our hearts to the people of the South Bay community, let’s practice what we observe in God’s people through the ages as we fast and pray for God to OPEN our eyes so that we may see the harvest.　I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people (Ephesians 1:18). Amen

--Dean Mayeda

Tuesday, November 14

Daniel 10:3. All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed.

Have you ever "given something up" for Lent? Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending the Saturday before Easter. The forty days mirror the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, preparing for His ministry, and being tempted by Satan. The idea is to fast to help you to enter into a time of repentance and focus on Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross. In the past, some of the churches I attended encouraged us to give up something during Lent. At various times, I have given up caffeine, Starbucks, Diet Pepsi, and desserts/sweets to prepare for the coming of Easter. Giving up sweets was particularly hard for me because my birthday is in March--usually during the time of Lent--and I couldn't eat any birthday cake.

Fasting is not limited to giving up something related to food; sometimes denying yourself the pleasure of television, Starbucks, movies, eating out, etc. can achieve the same result as giving up a food item. You can spend the time you would have spent on those activities focusing on your relationship with God and reaching out to our community to get to know the people and share your relationship with Christ. Or you can take the resources you would have spent on those luxuries to contribute to our OPEN campaign. I encourage you to "give up" something during this month to help you commit to what you can do to join in the vision of what God is going to do in our family of Christ at Nova during this campaign.

Dear Heavenly Father, I want to focus on you more during Nova's OPEN campaign. Help me to identify what I should be fasting from or "giving up" so that I can join in the vision of what God is going to do here at Nova. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

--Carla Conte


1 Corinthians 7:5. Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Paul is saying in a marriage covenant to freely give and freely receive intimate love from your spouse. God does not deprive us of joy but rather presents opportunities to praise him through a marriage covenant that reflects him in love and sacrifice. Remember as a gift from God you enter into this covenant with His blessing to become one flesh.

At times, though, it may help us focus in prayer when we decide to ‘fast’ from God’s gifts. Mutually you are to sacrifice your strongest desires to God, honoring Him and remembering the ultimate sacrifice He has made for your salvation. Even if you are not married, you can choose to abstain from any number of good things in order to more fully experience intimacy with God. During those times we may make an informal or formal vow. We should take this seriously by clearly setting timetables for our abstinence and honoring our commitments

Paul recognizes temptation and encourages you to remain blameless and hold fast to your faith as you go throughout your day. Use these opportunities to pray and discern what is truly on your heart and to reconcile with God, allowing Him to fill it.

He is always teaching you how to glorify him, guiding you, never wanting you to stray. God has given you the tools to remain faithful in your love for your spouse and others as you remain faithful in your love for Him.

Lord, thank you for this time to reflect on your words. Encourage our faith to grow and to understand your will for our marriage and our lives. Please give us strength, integrity and perseverance. Help us to truly enjoy the good gifts you give us.

--Butch and Shureen Paredes


Philippians 3:19. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul contrasts those that live “as enemies of the cross of Christ” with those who have “citizenship in heaven.” In this passage, Paul states that the enemy of God has a different god – his stomach.

We can make gods or idols of many things in our lives – people, pursuits, pleasures of many kinds. So many of the things that we “glory” in can actually cause our destruction and shame. For many of us, the pleasure that we seek can be through our actual stomachs, filling ourselves with good food and drink that satisfy us for a short while. For others, the struggle is a figurative “stomach” that provides earthly pleasure, again satisfying for only a short while.

As citizens of heaven through Christ, we have a hope beyond this life. As Pastor Dave recently preached, we know who wins the game and we are on the winning team! As a result, we should have an eternal perspective on how we treat ourselves, our neighbors, and even our enemies.

What are the earthly things that your mind is set on? What is your heart pursuing that is only of temporary value? What would the Lord have you fast from in order to rely more on Him?

Father, I confess that my heart and mind are often focused on the here and now. Give me an eternal perspective. Help me to care for the things that you care about, and to flee from the idols that don’t truly satisfy me and hinder my relationship with you. Thank you for your faithfulness.

--Andrew Pitman

Friday, November 17

Isaiah 58:3-7. ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’ “I will tell you why!” I respond. “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.

You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the LORD? No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.”

Have you ever fasted before? Fasting is meant to be a time where people abstain from certain material things, habits, lifestyle choices, and foods, as a way of seeking God’s guidance and presence. When people fast, they choose to get rid of the distractions in order to make space in their lives to hear from God. Have you ever had a friend that asked you for advice, and then they didn’t choose to listen to that advice? It can feel frustrating when they don’t listen—especially after they had taken the effort to come and ask! This was what the Israelites were doing. They were fasting and putting on appearances that they wanted to hear from God, but they really just wanted to follow a religious practice without changing their hearts. They wanted to appear a certain way on the outside, while changing nothing in their inner life. Just like them, when we want to seek God for his direction, we need to actually listen to what he says.Is your heart ready to receive the word Jesus has for you? If the answer is yes, then ask him to speak and he will. But when he does, you need to be ready to listen to what he tells you.

Father God, I want to hear your voice and your plans for my life. Help me to be open to what you want to say. Help me to be obedient to listen to your guidance.

--Coral Taluban


“If　you　don’t　feel　strong　desires　for　the　manifestation　of　the　glory　of　God,　it　is　not　because　you　have　drunk　deeply　and　are　satisfied.　It　is　because　you　have　nibbled　so　long　at　the　table　of　the　world.　Your　soul　is　stuffed　with　small　things,　and　there　is　no　room　for　the　great.”　

--John Piper

If you could imagine a picture of your soul (with the contents of your life inside) what would it look like? Is it stuffed full of things (whether good or evil)? Or is there an Open space where the glory of God can enter in?

What are the things you need purged from your life?

What things would it be helpful to give up for a time in order to cleanse your spirit, body and mind so that you can have clarity and focus?

Sunday, November 19

Your Presence by G. Jefferies

The peace of your Presence comes softly,As I kneel before you in prayer.The strength of your Presence upholds me,When danger or trouble is near.

When the enemy would bring confusion,And it would cause my heart to fear,Your Presence is my place of refuge,I know I am protected here.

Your Presence gives me joy in knowing,My heavenly Father is near.His love over me is my banner,I am never out of his care.

Monday, November 20

James 4:6-10. But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

By this time in the course of the Open campaign, you have spent time praying for our church and community; you have prepared yourself spiritually; you have reflected on your relationship with your resources and God’s Kingdom; and you have discerned the part God wants you to play in giving to the campaign. Now we are transitioning into a time of keeping our commitments. If you have committed (along with many others at Nova) to give sacrificially to the campaign, or have taken on servant roles to move the project forward, this may become a particularly intense time of spiritual battle. The attacks can come from within (in your mind/will/emotions) or from without (relationships, circumstances).

You can expect to struggle with bouts of fear, anxiety, or doubt. The hallmark of this type of spiritual attack is that, even though these feelings seem very real and logical, you can’t actually connect the feelings with a cause. What I mean is, it’s normal to feel a sense of anxiety when we receive an unexpected bill, or to feel anger when someone wrongs us, but these types of internal attacks come uncaused by external circumstances. What can you do? Submit yourself to God. Resist the devil [for as long as it takes...which can sometimes feel like a very long time].

Sometimes the attacks come in the form of strife in relationships. How many times have you fought with your spouse or family member just after you dedicated yourself to do something for the Lord?! What is encouraging to me about spiritual attacks is that they tend to be a little bit predictable. The same temptations come. The same patterns of discouragement or rage or confusion rise up out of nowhere. If we can recognize these things in ourselves and others as spiritual attacks, we will remember who the real enemy is. Then we will be free to take

James’ advice and humble ourselves, repent, resist the devil, and wait on God to lift us up out of the situation.

Father, give me the Spirit of discernment so that I will know what is coming from myself, from the devil, and from You. Guard me and those close to me against turning on one another in the midst of the battle. Teach us to recognize the enemy and resist the devil together.

--Amy Martin


1 Peter 5:8. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Peter does a great job giving us a visual warning about how dangerous Satan is to our spiritual well-being. He is telling us how urgent it is for us to stay alert by keeping our minds and attitudes focused on God. Our spiritual enemy Satan is waiting for an opportunity to strike. Satan will do whatever it takes to damage our faith. He will cause fear and anxiety by whispering lies to us. But as children of God we need to be steadfast in our faith and hold firm to trusting God in His promises so we may discern anything that may separate us from our Heavenly Father.

Dear Heavenly Father,I pray that my faith and love for you deepen and strengthen as I trust in your truths and promises. Let me cast all my anxieties onto you, Lord, so that I may have a humble heart and a clear mind to discern anything that isn't from you Lord.In Jesus’ precious name I pray, Amen.

--Rebecca Hester


Ephesians 4:26-27. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

“You have every right to be angry.” How many times have we heard this said to us? How many times have we said it ourselves? As we walk through life in this world full of broken people, we are certain to encounter situations where we have been wronged and probably do “have every right to be angry.” People sin against each other all the time and society tells us that our anger in those situations is justified, that it is our “right” to hold on to that anger.

But then we encounter the words of this passage and we are encouraged to let go of our “right” to be angry. The amazing thing about it is that the reasons to stop holding on to our anger here are primarily for our own benefit. We need to forgive for ourselves, to help us avoid the sins that anger can lead us to: pride, self-righteousness, rage, and more. We need to forgive for ourselves so that the devil is not given an entry into our lives.

When we hold on to our “right” to be angry, we forget that we follow in the footsteps of a Savior who surrendered every right that He had on the cross, including His right to be angry at us for every sin that we ever commit, since all of them are sins against Him.

Heavenly Father, thank you for being a God who forgives. Help me to forgive others out of the abundance of forgiveness that you have given me. Help me to avoid clinging to my “right” to be angry and instead seek reconciliation with those who have wronged me. Amen.

--Shannon Pitman


A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;Our helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe- His craft and power are great, And, armed with cruel hate,On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,Were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing.Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He-Lord Sabaoth His name From age to age the same,And He must win the battle.

And tho this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph thru us.The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him-His rage we can endure, For lo, his doom is sure:One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;The Spirit and the gifts are ours thru Him who with us sideth.Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also-The body they may kill;God’s truth abideth still:His kingdom is forever.

Many have called this hymn “The Battle Hymn of the Reformation”. Written by Martin Luther, approximately 10 years after he had posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg church, the hymn was taken from Psalm 46. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” reads the first verse of the Psalm.Luther wrote, “A Mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing. Our Helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.” Because of his protests against the church, and its corruption, he was deeply aware of

the “ancient foe”. However, his confidence was not in any earthly protection, or fortress, but he was looking to God, and no power on earth could equal the power of God. His hymn was a celebration of the sovereign power of God, over all earthly and spiritual forces. Because of his faith in the Lord of Hosts, he could be bold, confident, and even defiant in the face of opposition.

Lord God, thank you for the example of Martin Luther, and others like him, who were able to trust in you even in the midst of great difficulties. Thank you for your Word, which opens our eyes to the truth of who you are, and how much you care for us. Help our faith to grow as we seek to trust you more fully. Our lives are completely in your hands. Amen.

--Donna D’Amico

Friday, November 24

Ephesians 6:10-12. A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

While most governments strive to protect their citizens from terrorists, no one really knows who these terrorists are and when they will attack. Satan works in similar ways. He is unseen and, like a terrorist, can attack us at any time, seeking to distance our relationship with God and His work. God has given us HIS armor as tools to engage Satan so that we will be ready for these attacks. Meditate on each piece of the armor and how it can help you stand firm against the devil: Belt of Truth. God’s truth is everlasting and Satan cannot change it. Breastplates of Righteousness. We are forever made righteous when we put our faith in Jesus. Feet fitted with the gospel of peace. The gospel is our mission, to share the good news of Jesus to others through our lives. Our peace in difficult circumstances is one way to share the gospel.Shield of faith. Our faith does not only believe that God is real, but that he is also living and active in our lives.Helmet of Salvation. A helmet protects the most important part of your body, just like our salvation protects us from the evil scheme of Satan.Sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. The sword can be used as both an offensive and defensive weapon. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrew 4:12. Prayer. In case you forgot all the above, you can always talk to our commander and chief, who is always ready to listen to us and give us direction.

Dear Jesus, thank you for providing me with the tools needed to stand firm despite Satan’s attempt to separate us. Help me to remember that I have these tools at all times so I can withstand and overcome Satan’s attack. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen

--Wilkin Lee


“Don’t　dig　up　in　doubt　what　you　planted　in　faith.”

--Elisabeth Elliot

If you made any type of commitment during the Open campaign, but especially if you made a commitment to give sacrificially, it’s beneficial for your faith in the Lord if you stand firm in that commitment.

Are you experiencing doubts concerning the commitment you discerned the Lord calling you to give? Take it to the Lord. What might his invitation be to you right now?

Sunday, November 26

Living Word

Thy Word, O God, my guide, my light,Transforms, restores, renews my mind.You speak ~ this blind man gains insight,Your righteousness and truth I find.

Your Spirit draws me to your side,He bids me listen and obey:‘Come build your life upon the Rock,No storm can wash My Word away!’

Amid the flame of searing loss,Eyes closed in pain shut out your light,Your Word proclaims that, through your CrossAnd risen life, you crushed the night!

My soul is fed by every phrase,My thirst is quenched in river deep,I’ll drink and dine for endless days,In death, I’ll rise ~ shake off false sleep!

For You, my King, enthroned above,Awaken sunrise with your love! ~ Rick D’Amico 10/10/2017

Monday, November 27

2 Kings 6:15-17. When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!” The LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

Every day we choose to either live like Elisha or his servant. We can spend time with God in His Word and prayer, allowing Him to open our eyes to see from His perspective, or we can do life on our own, seeing with only our natural eyes. The problem with the second option is that the world is not merely physical, and our natural perspective is very limited. Inevitably, we are going to have a mistaken view of reality and be led astray by our perceptions.

Paul prayed for God to give the Ephesian Christians the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they would know Him better, and that the eyes of their hearts would be enlightened to know the hope to which He has called us and His incomparably great power for those who believe. May that be our prayer for ourselves and our family in Christ.

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, give ________ your Spirit of wisdom and insight so that ______ will know You better. I pray that _________‘s heart will be flooded with light so that he/she will be filled with hope and have faith that your incomparably great power is working on behalf of those who believe.

--Dave Martin


Philippians 1:9-10. I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

When I think of overflowing, I think of abundance of blessings. I think of human containers that are simply not grand or large enough to hold the abundant blessings the Lord has in store for us. I also think of overflowing as outreach. It is easy to keep our own little lives protected and contained within our zones of comfort. It is easy to ignore the door when a solicitor comes knocking. It is easy to quickly close the garage door, rather than engage with your neighbor. It is easy to only invite friends and family we know, rather than strangers into our homes. While all these things are the easier options, Paul is showing us that the Lord wishes so much more of us. We are called to be vessels that are overflowing with love. What does this look like? I think it is the opposite of those simple scenarios I described. I think it is opening the door to the solicitor even if you have no interest in what they are selling. It is talking to your neighbor, rather than be quick to shut the garage. It is inviting strangers and neighbors into your homes and showing them the love of Jesus. In the eyes of Jesus, these are the types of actions that “really matter” when it comes to expanding the Kingdom of God. It is through a willingness to exhibit lives that naturally overflow with the love of Jesus to all people that our lives intersect with, that will ultimately bring “much glory and praise to God.”

Dear Lord, we pray that you can open our hearts and minds to be overflowing with the love of Jesus to all those we meet. Amen.

--Kelli Capel


Proverbs 9:10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

What are you afraid of? When we turn on the news or radio, it is filled with shocking stories that can drives us to live in fear. We all have fears in some shape or form. But the “fear of the Lord” has a completely different meaning.

Joshua 24:14 provides a great description of what the fear of the Lord looks like practically: “So fear the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD alone.”

To fear the Lord means that we will acknowledge that God is worthy of our respect, and that we will give him honor and glory in all aspects of our lives. We can develop our fear of the Lord by acknowledging that He is continually watching over us – our world, our families, our friends, our jobs, and our church. Let’s ask God to help us develop a deep reverence towards him and commit to obey His commands. That’s what a wise person does. The foolish ones despise the Lord’s instructions and have no real foundation. (Proverbs 1:7)

Father God, help me to develop a healthy fear and reverence for You. Lead me to trust in you for all things in my life. I realize that I need to come to you often in times of need. Make me humble and help me to obey your commands so when it is time for me to make decisions I will base it on Your wisdom, not mine. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

--Takako Lee


Philippians 2:12-13. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Wait, so who is doing the work here? We’re working out our salvation but God is working in us at the same time? There is a strange beauty to the Gospel where it is God alone who has saved us and is working in us, but that doesn’t mean we’re just marionettes dancing to the movement of the puppeteer. We have stern admonitions to act rightly. We are God’s people, let’s act accordingly!

You’ve been working at this. Keep going! Keep on fighting the good fight. We battle our sin but it is God who works in us, helping us in the struggle. And what good comes from us, comes from him, and fulfills his good purposes. How marvelous to be included in God’s good purposes!

God, thank you for loving me and saving me. Continue to help me be obedient to you.

--Thomas Whiteside

Documents

s3. · Web viewThe forty days mirror the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, preparing for His ministry, and being tempted by Satan. The idea is to fast to help you to enter into a