Ines Franklin

Hunger is a powerful feeling- What do we hunger for that is leaving us unfulfilled?

A Divine appointment when a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” John 4:7GOD’S GREAT GIFT: A gift that transforms! Receiving the gift of Grace.Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 4:10

Does God need a name? Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. Joshua 24:2Not all “gods” are the sameFor even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God... 1 Corinthians 8:5-6What is his name? Moses said to God, “Suppose…they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” Exodus 3:13I AM or I will be = ehyehGod said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14HE IS = YHWH, Tetragrammaton translated in English as “LORD”God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.” Exod

THE VERY BEST GIFTLuke 2:22-40 God’s very best gift ...the grace of God was on him... Luke 2:40 forgiveness of sins This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 eternal life The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 Embrace the unexpected Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36 Looking at the New Year quite differentlyPeople who believed God’s promises:Joseph and Mary: obedienceimmediate self-gratification vs. t

Obsessed with shiny stuff, deep thirst revealedAs the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. Psalm 42:1The unexpected reality of Christmas:1.God’s glory revealedAn angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them… Luke 2:9For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:142.To the weak and powerlessAnd there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. Luke 2:8•Outsiders, poor, despised, low-class, outcasts…they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. Luke 2:9-10aGod chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. 1 Corinthians 1:28-293.It’s Good News! I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:

I love you thiiiiiiiis much!God’s favor, name by name Luke 1:26-28 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancyGod sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.The greatest birth announcement ever!The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:30-33Promised long ago“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15A child like no otherFor to us a child is born …he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of P

When waiting gets oldPromise made“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God… A voice of one calling: ‘In thewilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert ahighway for our God. …the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all peoplewill see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’” Isaiah 40:1,3-5“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me…” Malachi 3:1What are you hoping for?Promise fulfilled Luke 1:5-24ChoseBoth of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all theLord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childlessbecause Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both veryold. …he was chosen by lot… Luke 1:6-7, 9Prayer heardBut the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayerhas been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you areto call him John. Luke 1:13Joy and delightHe will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because ofhis birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord …

Our last sane moment… Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23The enemy of gratitudeThe thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10•Is God good? “Did God really say…?” Genesis 3:1•Is God truthful? “You will not certainly die.” Genesis 3:4•Is God powerful? “you will be like God” Genesis 3:5Ingratitude = failure or refusal to acknowledge receipt of something good from anotherThe result of ingratitudeAt that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. … So they hid from the LORD God… Genesis 3:7-8 NLT For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. James 3:16A good thanksgiving, for all your days Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts

David’s heart‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ Acts 13:22David’s last words:When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 1 Kings 2:1•Be strong “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man…” 1 Kings 2:2“Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you….” 1 Chronicles 28:20I need You Lord…Lord, I need YouTruly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. 2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2Immanuel, God with you “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me…the Spirit of truth. …he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:1, 15-17•Commit wholeheartedly “…learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. Fo

"Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves." –ConfuciusAfter Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.”2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men… 1 Samuel 24:1-22 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. 3 He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me – God sends forth his love and his faithfulness. Psalm 57:2-3Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Psalm 142:6He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” 1 Samuel 24:3-4aThen David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Afterward, David was conscience-strick

…the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart… 1 Samuel 13:14God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do. Acts 13:22 NLT Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23לֵבָב > ♥Hebrew lebab = the inner center of thought, will, emotion, passion (courage) and spirit – INNER BEIGN~Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. 3 The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them. 1 Samuel 17:1-3PHOTO: Valley of ElahA champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat

Jesus + nothing = everything!For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 NLTI am called to live in freedom.We are brothers and sisters.Use your freedom to serve!It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. Galatians 5:16-17…let the Holy Spirit guide your lives…The desires of the sinful nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostili

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 NLTAs for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! Galatians 5:12For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. Galatians 5:13akαλέω kaléō = call, name, direct, summon, invite, appointWhat does it mean to “be called?” Calling is the truth that God calls us to himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion, dynamism, and direction lived out as a response to his summons and service. -Os Guinness, The Callקָרָא qara = call, shout, summon, to name, announce, appointBut now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1God’s call changes everything! The gate

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13a NLTadelphós = brethren, siblings, brothers and sisters22 “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you…” Matthew 5:22-2312…to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:12-13“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6“Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. John 11:17-2021 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” John 11:21-2425 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” John 11:25-2728 After she had said this, she went back and called h

Why would God want me?Am I where God wants me to be?Where am I going?What’s next?Why is it taking so long?Am I on a detour?Did I get lost or miss a turn?What am I supposed to do?As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-34 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:113 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me

POTHOLES, SINKHOLES & DEAD ENDSMatthew 4:1-11 Am I on a detour?An unexpected, but required turn16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1Hazards of the journey•Do it yourself2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The temptercame to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Matthew 4:2-3•Force God’s hand5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “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.’” Matthew

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1-2By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones. Hebrews 11:22Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them. Genesis 37:2Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. Genesis 37:3-4Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. Genesis 37:5The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. Genesis 39:2Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his maste

Where am I going?If you’re running on empty [Elijah] came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die.“I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than myancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. 1 Kings 19:4-5• Food for the journeyThe angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him andsaid, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got upand ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty daysand forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.1 Kings 19:7-8• Hiding placesThere he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word ofthe LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah? 1 Kings 19:9Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths,you are there. Psalm 139:7-8Can’t see what’s ahead?The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD,for the LORD is about to pass by.” 1

Why would God want me?Am I where God wants me to be? Where are am I going? What’s next? Why is it taking so long? Am I on a detour?Did I get lost or miss a turn? Who is with me?The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” Judges 6:11-12“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” Judges 6:13The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” Judges 6:14Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the l