Spring 2016

The schedule for spring 2016 is now posted!  Please go to the "Lesson Topics for Spring 2016" tab or click HERE: http://godspurified.blogspot.com/p/lesson-topics-for-fall-2015.html 

As you can see from the plan, we're going way more in-depth this semester and tackling some tough topics.  We will try to keep everything understandable for the younger girls, but when we asked for topic recommendations at the end of the fall semester, the girls fired back such great, challenging topics that we were way too excited to say no!  Five of the eight topics were specifically requested by the girls. 

We are SO blessed by our group of young ladies who are eager to think critically and learn to digest solid food, rather than being content with milk (1 Corinthians 3:2).  Thus, tougher topics this semester! 

Parents: If you are uncomfortable with a topic, please feel free to contact us and discuss your concerns.  We would be happy to share lesson plans with you in advance and let you review everything we'll be presenting.  If you decide to keep your daughter home for that meeting, we'll understand.  We would also love to hear any wisdom/advice that you have to offer on any given topic! 

Contact Sylvia: 708-310-6234 (text or call) or jsphillips(dot)stl(at)gmail(dot)com
Contact Jael: 618-314-2321 (text or call) or estherjaelelizabeth(at)yahoo(dot)com 
Contact both: brightlightsmascoutah(at)gmail(dot)com 

Bright Lights-His Lighthouse Christmas Party

Annual Bright Lights/His Lighthouse
Christmas Party

Who: Bright Lights and His Lighthouse members and their families.

When: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 8^th

Where: Zion Lutheran Church, 101 S. Railway St. in Mascoutah (one block north of our usual meeting place) in the gym.

What: Carol singing, potluck dinner, Bible lesson, fun and fellowship

Please bring: Your Bible, 2 dishes (or 1 dish and 1 dessert) for the potluck, and your family.

Schedule:

5:30 - Arrive at Zion

5:45 - Caroling at local nursing homes/assisted living

6:30 - Potluck dinner  

7:00 - Scripture lesson by Mr. Josh Peterson

7:15 - Games and fellowship

8:30 - Cleanup at 8:30

We hope to see you there! 

Security in Christ

The Case of the $5 bill and the Airplane

 

John 14:15, American Popular Version

So, God reckons us righteous if we believe Him. 

·         Reckon: To count; to number

·         Believe: To credit upon the authority or testimony of another  (Webster’s 1828)

The Case of the $5 Bill

     I told "Mary" that I had hidden a $5 bill in the piano bench.  I asked her if I was truthful (she said yes).  I then told her that I had given her the $5.  Was it hers?  Yes.  Could she see it?  No.  I then told her to walk to the piano bench.  Halfway down, I asked her again if the $5 was hers.  Yes.  Could she see it?  No.  How did she know it was hers?  Because I said so.  Why did that matter?  Because I was truthful.  So it went until she got it out of the piano bench.  The point was, just as she had to believe my word that she had something she couldn't see, so we have to believe God's word that we have things that we can't see.

So, let’s look at some problems:

1.      2 Corinthians 5:17 – Am I a new creation?

2.      Romans 6:2 – Am I dead to sin?

3.      John 10:28 – Can I be taken from God?

4.      Hebrews 13:5 – Can God forsake me?

5.      1 Corinthians 10:13 – What if I’m tempted too much?

John 14:15 Romans 6:2, American Popular Interpretation

 

The Case of the Airplane

      You cannot fly unless you are in the airplane.  Thus, we need to be in Christ in order to live as He commands.  Take a look at Ephesians.

Transferring the Reckoning

At the end of the lesson, we handed out prizes to our three groups for Bible memory.  Quite a few of the girls had memorized all the required verses, a few had memorized most of the extra verses, and one had memorized ALL the verses!

Reminder: the joint BL/HL Christmas party is on December 8.  Please plan on bringing 1-2 large dishes to share at 5:30 (if that requirement would keep you away, please email us and we'll get it figured out) to Zion Lutheran (2 blocks away for HL and BL).  Caroling will start shortly after that, with meal to follow.  Hope to see you all there!

And thank you to Adam4d.com for allowing me to use his comics!!  His comics are amazing and very Christ-centered.  :-)

Time Value & Investment

Time Value & Investment

Why is it important to manage time wisely?

·        We’re supposed to be good  stewards  of what God has given us.

o   Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys. (Proverbs 18:9)

·        It allows us to accomplish more; our life can have a bigger impact.

o   Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

o   She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. (Proverbs 31:27)

·        It affects who we are as individuals.

o   So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

·        We never know what tomorrow will bring, so today needs to be invested well

o   Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. (James 4:14)

·        It brings rewards!

o   A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. (Proverbs 6:10-11)

o   The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor. (Proverbs 12:24)

o   The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. (Proverbs 13:4)

o   The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. (Proverbs 21:25)

o   The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing. (Proverbs 20:4)

·        It keeps us from being shamed by ants or being compared to door hinges...

o   Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. (Proverbs 6:6-8)

o   As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. (Proverbs 26:14)

Four Common Struggles with Time:

1.      Boredom

a.      “Only boring people are bored!”

b.      Lists can help:

                                                              i.      What are some things you are interested in and want to learn more about?

“So we have the technology needed to put man on the moon in our pockets, and we use it to look at funny cat videos!?” –Joseph Phillips

                                                           ii.      What are some skills you would like to learn?

                                                         iii.       (Most importantly...) What missions do you think God might be calling you to in the future, and how can you prepare for them?

2.      Wasting Time/Procrastination

a.      Always be thinking of ways to use your time wisely.

b.      Identify time-wasters and cut them out.

c.      Accountability is key!

3.      Disinterest in Important Things

·        How much time per day do you spend watching YouTube videos, playing computer/phone/video games, being on social media, or surfing the Internet?

·        How much time do you spend on “me-time”...doing only what you want to do?

·        How much time per day do you spend reading your Bible and praying?

·        How much time do you spend investing in relationships with family and friends?

·        How much time do you spend serving others?

·        If someone were to look at the way you spend your time, what would they say are your priorities?

4.      Busyness/Over-Commitment

a.      If rest was important enough for God to base one of the Ten Commandments on it, we should pay attention!

b.     


Mark 2:23-28

Memory verse: Ephesians 5:15-16 

Extra credit: Psalm 90:12, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Romans 14:4