June 10-16

2

Pray forPray forPray forPray for:

• Residents with whom we will be working

• Others to be receptive to God’s love

• Local ministries

• Each other

Serve:Serve:Serve:Serve:

• One another

• Others

3

Student Participants (61)

Amelia Auchmuty

Anna Marie Auchmuty

Brandon Baker

Madison Baker

Duncan Bates

Joey Bearden

Maggie Bearden

Mary Cooper Bearden

Reid Bearden

Grace Bonner

Leah Bonner

Ray Boyd

Elizabeth Bridges

Sarah Buchanan

Mary Buford

Ma(e Buford

Lillian Compher

Seth Compher

Allie Couch

Emily Couch

Will Couch

Mary Ingalls Dwyer

Anna Lane Elmore

Kaleb Etheredge

Jane Fuqua

Jack Gibbs

Josef Halcomb

Hunter Hallmark

Ella Harris

Caroline Hart

Ka0e Hart

Brandon Harwell

Eleanor Jo Harwell

Luke Hinkle

Parker Hinkle

Parker Hutchens

Anna Claire Johnson

Mary Kyle Kilgore

Reagan LeCroy

Cain McCoy

Camryn McCoy

Charlie Morris

Oakley Prell

Trey Prell

Tanner Roberts

Julia Sasser

Olivia Sasser

Aaron Seawald

Ryan Shelton

Braxton Sims

Jonathan Skurstenis

Hannah Smith

Nicholas Smith

Benjamin Stocks

Madelyn Stocks

Anna Swaika

Daniel Thomley

Abbey Tucker

Savannah Tucker

Abby Webster

Brody White

4

Duties Jimbo Auchmuty Construction 1, Luggage

Cathy Bearden T-shirts, Counter

Glenn Bridges Construction 2, Accountant

Sheila Bridges Prayer Focus, Thank you cards

Jay Elmore Construction, Power Pt

Mark Johnson Construction 4, Transportation/Luggage

Sandy Johnson Nurse

Joyce Roberson Cook

Julie Smith Devotionals/Entertainment/Free Day

Preston Smith Cook, Bday Celebration

Jacquelyn Stover Photographer/Birthday Celebrations

Mara Swaika Encourager

Denis Tanner Coordinator and Sr. QT, gathering supplies

Jimbo Auchmuty

Cathy Bearden

Glenn Bridges

Sheila Bridges

Jay Elmore

Mark Johnson

Sandy Johnson

Joyce Roberson

Julie Smith

Preston Smith

Jacquelyn Stover

Mara Swaika

Denis Tanner

903-5666

533-5944

566-9520

482-2486

903-9669

531-8698

948-7155

281-2925

999-7087

936-0358

999-9863

470-3859

531-7361

Chaperones

5

Vehicles

VAN Grade

1 church 7th

2 church 8th

1 rental 9th

2 rental 10th

3 rental 10th

4 rental 11th

5 rental 12th

Drivers

1 rental luggage

# of students

12

8

9

7

8

8

9

Joyce

grade girls guys total

7th 6 6 12

8th 3 5 8

9th 5 4 9

10th 9 6 15

11th 3 5 8

12th 7 2 9

Students 33 28 61

Adults 7 6 13

TOTAL 40 34 73

MS 20

HS 41

Metro Van Rental (205) 942-1942 p/u 6/10 Sat -7am Ret 6/18 Sun - am

6

Family Groups

10 family groups

74 total participants

Group 1b

Sandy Johnson

1 Reid Bearden

2 Lily Compher

3 Benjamin Stocks

4 Daniel Thomley

5 Savannah Tucker

6 Abbey Tucker

Group 2a

Jacquelyn Stover

1 Ray Boyd

2 Elizabeth Bridges

3 Mary Buford

4 Mary Ingalls Dwyer

5 Luke Hinkle

6 Trey Prell

Group 2b

Glenn Bridges

1 Duncan Bates

2 Sarah Buchanan

3 Ka0e Hart

4 Charlie Morris

5 Nicholas Smith

6 Anna Swaika

Group Leader Denis Tanner

Cook Joyce Roberson

Cook Preston Smith

Group 1a

Jimbo Auchmuty

1 Joey Bearden

2 Grace Bonner

3 Seth Compher

4 Kaleb Etheredge

5 Parker Hutchens

6 Tanner Roberts

7

Family Groups

Group 4a

Jay Elmore

1 Anna Marie Auchmuty

2 Madison Baker

3 Hunter Hallmark

4 Brandon Harwell

5 Camryn McCoy

6 Braxton Sims

Group 3a

Sheila Bridges

1 Amelia Auchmuty

2 Leah Bonner

3 Allie Couch

4 Parker Hinkle

5 Oakley Prell

6 Aaron Seawald

Group 3b

Mark Johnson

1 Brandon Baker

2 Jack Gibbs

3 Caroline Hart

4 Cain McCoy

5 Olivia Sasser

6 Hannah Smith

Group 4b

Mara Swaika

1 Maggie Bearden

2 Emily Couch

3 Anna Lane Elmore

4 Ryan Shelton

5 Abby Webster

6 Brody White

Group 5a

Julie Smith

1 Ma(e Buford

2 Will Couch

3 Ella Harris

4 Eleanor Jo Harwell

5 Anna Claire Johnson

6 Reagan LeCroy

Group 5b

Cathy Bearden

1 Mary Cooper Bearden

2 Jane Fuqua

3 Josef Halcomb

4 Mary Kyle Kilgore

5 Julia Sasser

6 Jonathan Skurstenis

7 Madelyn Stocks

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Itinerary

Saturday (wear 2017 DNow shirt, or other SCBC shirt) 8:00 am Meet and Load Up from Fellowship Hall 8:30 am Depart for Perry County 11:00 am Lunch 12:30-3:00 Block Party, City Courthouse, 123 E Jefferson St 4:00 pm Depart 6:30 pm Arrive Living Word Church, and unpack 20220 Oertel Trl, Citronelle, AL 36522 7:30 pm Dinner 8:30 pm Group Devotional & debriefing 10:30 pm In Rooms 11:00 pm Lights Out

Sunday (wear MT shirt) 10:45 am Living Word Church Service 12:30 pm Lunch 2:30 pm Orientation 6:00 pm Dinner 8:30 pm Group Devotional & debriefing

Monday through Thursday 7:00 am Quiet Time & Breakfast 7:45 am Departure for ministry site 11:30-2:00 THUR ONLY, BLOCK PARTY, CITRONELLE CITY PARK 4:00 pm Depart for Living Word Church 5:30 pm Dinner at lodging facility 8:30 pm Group Devotional & debriefing 10:30 pm In Rooms 11:00 pm Lights Out

Friday (wear MT shirt) 7:00 am Quiet Time & Breakfast 7:30 am Clean and load\ 8:30 am Depart (~1 hour) 10:00 am Duck Tour 2703 Battleship Parkway Mobile, AL (251) 802-8687 11:30 pm Lunch 1:30pm Depart 5:30pm Arrive at SCBC

June 21, Wed 6:00 pm Share MT in Fellowship Hall

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Block Party on the courthouse square

Saturday, June 10

12:30pm-3:00pm

Free food and drinks

games and activities for children

Saturdays Block Party Location:

City Courthouse

123 E Jefferson St, Marion, AL

(334)683-8969, (334)683-4666

Lucas Dorion, 205-718-9443, Associate Coordinator, Alabama CBF

Hannah Woods, 205-542-3964

Kayla Oliver, 205-381-7571

For 200-400 kids and adults

GAME IDEAS: Whiffle ball, bubbles something for preschoolers and first through second grade are the majority of kids. 4 quadrants

FOOD IDEAS: chips, boCled water, hot dogs, buns, condiments, popcorn?,

desserts(cookies)

Thursdays Block Party Location:

City of Citronelle

Basketball Court , Tennis Court, Playground

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Work Sites

2017 Mission Project Addresses

Living Word Church – 20290 N. Third St Citronelle, AL 36522

Taylor House (2 groups)– 21049 Hwy. 43 Mt. Vernon, AL

36560(antebellum home) rehab for women - 17 miles away, pregnant and small children present (26 ladies and 5-10 children) Renovate separate home. Develop playground/sandboxes at trailer. Possibly a playground. Staining the deck, replacing windows.

Hope House (1 group)—(7 Kids) Wiffleball game and other games

Fruitdale Campus (2 groups)– 82 Magnolia St. Fruitdale, AL 36539 - Work in garden, Paint sanctuary & bathrooms.

drug and alcohol recovery – 20 miles. Paint sanctuary. Work in Clothing Closet. 14-15 ladies stay there. Eat with the ladies and much more hands on.

C.H.A.I.R.S Ministry – 19225 N. Main St. Citronelle, AL 36522

(Christians Helping Addicts In Recovery) Working in the goodwill store.

Mission of Hope (2 groups) – 14970 Mission Rd Mobile, AL

36608 (Men’s group in Tanner/Williams)-choir sing?

Curtis Johnston Home – 14137 John Johnston Rd Citronelle, siding & carpentry work

Stand-by Projects

Camp Whispering Pines – 7740 Union St. Citronelle, AL 36522(Christian camp needs help with projects) grounds and light repair

(flooded-possible site) Mona Luker – 22224 Sims St Calvert, AL 36513 - Roofing, Clay Lewis church

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SAFETY GUIDELINES–Worksite

The following is a list of safety precautions and concerns for construction personnel on the work site. This list is not exhaustive. LADDER SAFETY Make sure that all ladders used are in good condition. Inspect each one.

Make sure all hinges, locks, guides, and leveling devices are functional. Check each ladder for its capacity rating.

Make sure your group knows how to properly position a ladder. Use a proper angle from the base of the ladder to the wall (1/4 the length of the ladder.) Clear the area around the ladder. Avoid electrical hazards. Make sure stepladders are properly locked. Tie off at the top any ladder that will be used to get on a roof. Make sure the ladder extends at least 3 feet above the roof edge. Make sure the job is within reach (not leaning out). Climb down and get off the ladder before moving it! Only one on the ladder at a time.

Don’t stand on the top step. Don’t stand on a rung above the roof line. Don’t lean a stepladder against a wall. Don’t use a ladder horizontally (lying across scaffolding.) Don’t place a ladder on scaffolding.

Organize a “ladder buddy” system. Make sure each person using a ladder for work has a partner who can help stabilize the ladder from the ground.

PAINTING Use of safety goggles when scraping overhead. Encourage the use of appropriate dust masks. Limit the use of paint thinners and solvents to tools and not to clothing.

Make sure group understands the safe use of clean-up chemicals. HEAT Make sure everyone is drinking large amounts of water. No carbonated

drinks . Wear sunscreen and adequate clothing to protect from sunburn and over-

exposure. Rotate group members on hot roofs and unshaded areas of work with other members in shaded areas.

Watch members carefully for signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion. POWER TOOLS – wear eye protection & NO Horseplay Inspect power tools for safety before using. (guards & safety

mechanisms). Check power cords for cracks and exposed wires. Make sure blades on saws are secure.

Make sure all youth are trained & closely supervised when using a power tool.

No 7th & 8th Graders On the Roof

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Rules

1. Love the Lord

2. Love others

3. Listen to the voice of God. Pray continuously

4. Be Flexible & have fun

5. Get to know those who are different from you

6. Enjoy your Quiet Time & sit still 5-10 minutes daily

to listen

7. Respect everyone – including self

8. Serve Others daily – help don’t hinder

9. Be on time – 5 minutes early

10. Be positive – Shine don’t whine

11. Obey those in authority

12. Get to know people at ministry sites – can give 1st

name but no contact information

13. Conduct self as a follower of Christ at all times

14. Participants should be with chaperones at all times

Whether on church campus or off

15. Participants may not leave campus without a

chaperone

Housing Guidelines • Members of opposite sex are not permitted in other

gender rooms and possibly building.

• No fires- even matches.

• Dress modestly since staff could be on hall.

• Each person is financially responsible for any damage.

• Do not mess with other people’s belongings, even

mattress.

We are the hands and feet of Christ- live above reproach.

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Dress Code

Please remember that we are under the umbrella of Christ, Mission Serve, local ministries, local churches as well as Shades Crest and your own family. This trip is a mission experience. Participants are on mission at all times: at work sites, at the lodging facility, traveling, and during free-day activities. A lot of advance work has been done to insure that residents of the community know who we are and why we are here. We are closely watched. How we dress is an important part of our witness. Participants should make a special effort to wear clothes that are modest and appropriate to the work to which we have been called.

Clothing that advertises alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs, that explicitly or implicitly promotes racism, sexism, hatred of any group or person, or explicitly or implicitly refers to sexual actions or situations is deemed as inappropriate.

Sleeved shirts are to be worn at all times (no spaghetti straps or midriffs – this includes dresses). This includes at work sites, worship, the lodging facility, and on the way to and from the showers. If the sleeves are torn off the shirt, it no longer meets the code.

Long pants must be worn at the work sites. Pants made of heavy cloth, like denim, are preferred.

Shorts are acceptable at the lodging facility. Shorts should be modest in length (no short shorts).

Participants are to be fully dressed in accordance with this dress code in hallways, in worship, and in route to shower and restroom facilities.

Closed toes must be worn at the work sites. Sandals are not acceptable. Shoes or boots with heavy soles are highly recommended. Tennis shoes are fine to wear.

Parents are asked to review the dress code with participants before leaving for the project.

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• Bible • Mission Trip Booklet • pen • personal family health insurance card • $$ for 2 lunches (travel days), snacks\Rec Day if

desired (Duck Tour cost is covered) • $ for offering during worship Sunday • SNACK to share on trip (can be healthy) • work gloves • water bottle for week with name on it • safety goggles • sunglasses • hat or visor • sleeping bag & pillow • air mattress (twin size only) • personal toiletries (comb, soap, toothbrush, deodorant,....) • suntan/burn lotion, sunscreen • insect repellent • towels, washcloths & shower shoes • facial tissues • Mission trip t-shirt (Wear Sunday & Friday) • 2017 DNow shirt ,CT, or other SCBC shirt (Wear

Saturday) • t-shirts with sleeves (no midriff tops or tops with

spaghetti straps, including dresses.) • shorts (no short-shorts) (long pants: required for work) • socks and underwear • sturdy shoes or work boots—tennis shoes are fine • rain gear • plastic bags for soiled clothing • Frisbee/disc golf stuff (if you have it– optional) • 4 inch paintbrush/ hammer Please put name on all belongings– especially tools

What To Bring

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• Skateboards, Scooters • Items that may be used for pranks such as shaving

cream, silly string, etc. Pranks are not allowed.

• Expensive clothing • Expensive jewelry • Tobacco products, alcohol, or non prescription

drugs

• Weapons of any kind • Fireworks

Do Not Bring

What To Bring

Optional Items to bring according to your work group: • Paint roller and Pan • Paint Bucket • Pry Bar • Paint Scraper • 4-6 in putty knife • Tape measure(25 ft) • Hammer • Paint Brushes(4 in width preferred)

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Quiet

TImes

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Saturday Quiet Time

Quiet Time: Prayer

Devotion:

Have you ever had trouble praying? Praying has definitely been

one of the hardest disciplines throughout life for me. Honestly, I

never saw a reason to pray, because if God knows what we are

praying, why would we need to repeat it to him? Through the

years, I have learned that prayer is a very important part of our

relationship with Jesus. Jesus wants us to talk to him. When we

do, all of our fear is gone, and we can feel His peace, comfort,

and presence. There has never been a better feeling than this

before for me.

1 John 5:14 says “This is the confidence we have in approaching

God; That if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us”

This is a reminder that God hears our prayers, and they are

ALWAYS answered

After I had been struggling with prayer for a while, someone told

me to discipline myself with 15 minutes out of every day - 5 for

worship, 5 for the word, and 5 for praying. I started to do this

every morning to spend time Jesus, and it eventually became a

habit, and I would start to want to pray more.

Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you for this day, and the opportunity to serve the people

here in Mobile. I pray that this week we will learn how important it

is to pray, and listen to you. Help me to be confident in knowing

that my prayers are heard, and answered. I love you. Amen

Julia Sasser

18

Sunday Quiet Time

The Ultimate Plan

At the beginning of my college touring experience, I toured

Vanderbilt with a friend and fell in love with the location... and

reputation, and it became my “dream school”. I applied as soon

as I could and would dream of my future at Vandy. A few months

later, about a week before the results were released, I started

second guessing Vanderbilt. Mississippi State kept coming up

in the back of my mind as I kept hearing positive things about it.

When the results were released, I found out that I was not

accepted to my dream school and after praying about this I

realized that I had not been searching for a school based on

God’s plan for me, but based on my own desires to go to a

school in a city I loved and with a reputation of intelligence. I

have always considered Proverbs 3:5-6 my life verse, and I

found this verse to comfort me during this time of trusting in

God’s plan rather than my own. I encourage you to always trust

in the Lord and seek him first in every decision you make,

because his plan is the ultimate plan for our lives. As you begin

this day, thank the Lord for going before you to design a perfect

plan for your life and pray that you will always seek him first and

trust his plan for you.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not

lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge

him, and he will direct your path.”

Emily Couch

Prayer: Ask God if you are trusting Him with everything and take

time to hear from Him. Praise Him for being trustworthy.

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Monday Quiet Time

Our Great Commission

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing

them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy

Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of age.”

Matthew 28:19-20

When I was in the ninth grade, over the summer I went on a

mission trip through the Appalachia Service Project to a small

area outside of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. During that time I

along with five other people were commissioned to a family who

had a deteriorating trailer as a home and we were there to help

do everything from demolition, to paint, to put in all new flooring,

ceilings, porch, etc. While on this trip I could feel God’s presence

inside myself, my team, and the family we were helping and

ministering to. The work we had to do in the middle of hot July

was not easy to say the least and there were times where

everything we had been working on did not seem to want to

cooperate with us but when the going got tough I remembered

this verse of Matthew 28 reminding myself the great commission

Jesus set out to his disciples and believers to go therefore and

make other disciples. As the trip came to an end we had not only

put in all new flooring and ceilings, but we also cared, prayed,

and ministered to a family who needed it. As the Shades Crest

Youth group we can all carry out the great commission today, this

week, and in our everyday life.

Ray Boyd

Prayer: Lord help me to work hard and love the people like You

do. May everything I do honor You today. Amen.

Take 5 minutes and thank him for 25 people or events.

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He is Our Strength

Throughout middle school and high school I had a difficult time

dealing with anxiety. I would worry about everything all the time

and it just wasn't healthy for me. At the beginning of high school I

was not plugged in at a church and wasn't having the constant

reminder that Jesus is always there for me. I felt really a lone and

wasn't sure how to deal with it or who to talk to. About midway

through high school I got back into church and had more role

models to look up to. The most important thing I learned at that

time was you can't go through things on your own. Jesus's

unconditional love is the only thing that will really make you feel

complete and content. One verse that helps me remember this is

Psalm 23:4 which says, "Even tho I walk through the valley of the

shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod

and your staff, they comfort me." Knowing that Jesus is my

shoulder to lean on has and always will get me through the

hardest times in life. Because of this I know that all worries can

be casted on to him because he really is the Great I Am. He is

our greatest friend, our hand to hold, and our strength when we

can't be strong.

My prayer for you:

Dear God, please be with each and every one of us today and let

us be reminded that you are our strength and through you we

can do all things. Please give us wisdom and guide us according

to your plan. Amen.

Madison Baker

Tuesday Quiet Time

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Your Purpose

In life, it is very easy to get discouraged. Weather you are at

school, work, football or cheer practice, piano rehearsal or just

sitting at home-you will get discouraged and doubt your self-

worth. Doubting your self worth or even doubting your purpose is

not a bad thing, it happens to all of us.

When the enemy puts negative thought into our heads then we,

myself included, have to remind ourselves of one thing. God

created us just how we were supposed to be created-perfect in

every way because we were beautifully crafted by Him. When we

doubt ourselves or doubt ourself worth, we are almost doubting

God, since we are made by him and in his image. When the

enemy sneaks in and comes to take away your joy and

happiness, be confident in the fact that you were perfectly,

exactly how you were supposed to be. So do not doubt yourself,

your worth, or your purpose. Turn from your problems, to His

presence.

Isaiah 41:10 says “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be

dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I

will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Psalm 34:19 says “A righteous man may have many troubles, but

the Lord delivers him from them all.”

Prayer: Dear God, help me to remember that I do have a purpose

and place in this world, even though I may not feel like it

sometimes. Help me to remain confident in who i am and my

identity in Christ. Amen.

Leah Bonner

Wednesday Quiet Time

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God’s Plan

For the past year, I have gone through the process of applying for

and deciding on a college. To summarize this process, I would

describe it as stressful. There is just something about choosing a

school to help prepare me for my career and the rest of my life that

had a lot of importance to me. One of the schools I was looking at

was absolutely perfect, and I knew that if I went to that school I

would be set for an amazing future. It had a beautiful campus, elite

academics, and a culture that I was looking for. I was determined

to go there. Very late in the college decision process I had only

two schools I was considering, the ‘perfect’ school and the ‘safe’

school. Around February, the open doors to the ‘perfect’ school

were all closing. I was so distraught, so I prayed that the

opportunity to attend that school would not close completely. Right

as I prayed that prayer, everything opened up for the school that I

had viewed as a last resort option for so long. God showed me

tremendous opportunities that this ‘safe’ school had to offer, and

God helped me see that He would show me the school to go to.

Since then I have realized that God doesn’t care how prestigious

your college is or what the success of its alumni are. He cares for

which school is the right fit for me.

“For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm

you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

I see this verse directly relating to my situation. I just had to seek

God’s plan before He was willing to show it to me clearly.

Whatever decision you are making, big or small, it is always wise

to ask God for guidance and always keep in mind that He has a

plan.

I pray that we will rely more on God when making decisions, and

not stress on the outcome because God will provide us with a

solution. Oakley Prell

Thursday Quiet Time

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Friday Quiet Time

Sometimes, as Christians, we feel like just because we are

followers of Christ everything is always going to go perfectly.

Shortly after I became a Christian, I came to the realization that

this isn't always the case. God doesn't make mistakes. He

doesn't haphazardly piece together some people then throw

them out into the world only to think years from now "oh well,

that one didn't turn out so good, I'll try better next time." No, he

knit us together by hand and by heart. I knit, and let me tell you it

takes a hot minute to actually make something, and while, yeah,

it's time consuming and sometimes frustrating, it also takes

devotion and careful planning and dedication to see it through

until the end. In the same way, God doesn't just throw together

people or leave them half finished, he carefully constructs us

with love and devotion and loves us enough to see us through

until the very end. For me, it took a perspective change to be

able to understand it, and to be honest, it's something that I'm

still working on understanding today. God puts us in places and

with people that help us to grow with Him. A few weeks ago, Dr.

Brian Lee preached on the importance of weaknesses in

Christians. He said that God gives us weaknesses so that we

might find our strength in Him. Even when life gets sticky or is

not quite going where we thought it would go, God has our

backs and He is not going to let us go.

This is my daily prayer and what I want to encourage y'all with;

to live each day with a heart that yearns for the Lord, with a mind

that seeks new ways to find joy in the Lord, and to reflect as

mirrors of Christ's love to others.

1 Corinthians 15:58 says it best, "therefore, my dear brothers

and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give

yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that

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Friday Quiet Time cont.

your labor in the Lord is not in vain." Find something today that

brings you joy and translate that joy into a way to communicate

God's glory with someone else.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

We come before you humbly today seeking joy in our lives even

when it seems impossible. Use our hands and our feet today to

do Your good work and to bring glory to Your kingdom.

Amen

Savannah Tucker

25

Saturday Quiet Time

Hearing the Word and Doing the Word

I’m the type of person who loves a to-do list. For some reason,

the act of organizing my day in the form of a column of words or

checking something off is something I genuinely enjoy. The flip

side of that, though, is that I'm not so great at letting go of my own

agenda. One time, when I was probably 8, I made a whole

Christmas Eve to-do list of what I would do that day, but my mom

told me to go play outside. That wasn’t on my list, so instead of

being a rational human and going to play outside, I threw an

actual fit. While I don’t really run into scenarios like that anymore,

I still tend to focus inward on what my plans are when I should be

taking a minute to be still and ask how God wants to use me. It’s

hard, no doubt, to stop and reflect on how we are living our lives

and how that may or may not line up with what God wants to do

through us. It’s much easier to read Bible verses about the life

that Christ calls us to, the humility and kindness and Christ-

likeness that we ought to aspire to, and then close our Bibles and

live our lives the same selfish way we always have. Being honest

with ourselves and with God is difficult, but it is oh-so-necessary if

we want to grow in our faith.

Read James 1:19-27 and Psalm 46:10

I’m not at all writing this devotional from my high horse. All too

often, I’m the one who checks off her devotion as another item on

her to-do list and doesn’t let God change the way that she goes

about her day. All too often, I forget to reflect on what His Word

says and how my actions align with that. All too often, my mindset

is much less “How does God want to use me?” and much more

“What do I want?”. These verses, though, showed me the fault in

that mindset and reminded me of the importance of being still and

26

Saturday Quiet Time cont.

remembering that He is God, and that his agenda beats my to-do

list every time. While we are on our work sites today, remember

to let God be in control, and be on the lookout for what He wants

to do through you. Don’t skim through this devotion and move on

through your day, but instead take time to pray and allow God to

rule your heart.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for this opportunity to be your hands and feet in

this community and to live out your Word. I pray that we would

remember that Your plan is so much greater than anything we

could imagine, and that we would open our hearts to allow you to

use us according to your will. I pray that after this trip, we will all

continue to follow your steps and let you be in control of our lives.

Amen.

Anna Claire Johnson

27

Sunday Quiet Time

To Choose Joy in the Midst of Mountains

I was reading my devo0on the other day and came upon something

which really encouraged me and gave me peace as I thought about

0mes when I have faced difficult situa0ons or moments when I felt like

I could never conquer what was ahead of me. Here it is:

Safe Path--

“Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.” Proverbs

4:26

Have you set a path for your feet or a mountain to climb? Set a goal

and work towards it. Perhaps your goal is to graduate from high school

or maybe it is to pay off a credit card. Gather your determina0on and

work hard! Many 0mes we get distracted, veer off the course, and then

we lose passion for our path. If you stay focused on your mountain, it

will surely be a safe path. --

I know that’s kinda short and simple, but it really struck me as a

representa0on of the uniqueness of choosing joy by focusing on the

safe path that is our walk with the Lord. As middle and high schoolers,

we have faced a lot of adversity and there have been 0mes that we

have not been as successful as we may have wanted. But the Lord gives

us these mountains as apart of our story to embrace and conquer. I

have always loved James 1:2-4 which says, “Consider it pure joy, my

brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because

you know that the tes0ng of your faith produces perseverance. Let

perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete,

not lacking anything.” There may be seasons in your life that have

been filled with what seems like trial aNer trial. However, instead of

allowing them to defeat you and make you feel weak and worthless,

you have to wake up with the mentality in which you say, “Today is the

moment when I will take these trials and persevere through them and

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Sunday Quiet Time cont.

allow them to shape me and strengthen me.” Through our trials, we

definitely become more mature and complete, and I know God has

given them to us to embrace and fulfill us with a greater power to

conquer. SO CONSIDER THEM JOY. Today can be the day when you cash

it all in and say, “ ya know what it was all worth it. The tears, the sweat,

the moments of failure, it’s all worth it because God has used those

weaknesses to make me stronger and more mature”. You’ve been

climbing this mountain and now it’s 0me to keep focus and conquer it.

Another ques0on which this verse allowed me to further develop is

this: How much do I really depend on the Lord to help me conquer

mountains and provide a safe path? ONen 0mes, I feel like we lose sight

of how powerful the Lord can be if we put our sole dependence in Him

to aide us in conquering our mountains. It is one thing to realize that

God has given us trials to strengthen us and to con0nue to choose joy

in the midst of those trials, but it is another thing to be fully dependent

on the Lord as our complete SOURCE of strength and joy during that

0me. I oNen think I am living a joyful life when I am con0nuing to hang

out with my friends or when I am con0nuing to do something that I

love (sports, band, etc.) during moments of hardship or struggle.

However, if those friends or that ac0vity were taken away would I s0ll

be as joyful and as confident in my abili0es to overcome that trial?

While I was in Nicaragua this past week, Denis told us a story of a

woman who he met while passing out food bags among the villages.

She and her family had no food to eat and no way to get any. She lived

in a nicer house which had been given to her as a giN so she was afraid

that we would not bring her a bag of food due to the outward

appearance of strength and stability. However, she later expressed that

her fear was removed due to the fact that her sole strength was found

in her dependence on the Lord and nothing else. She had been praying

that He would provide something to eat for her and her family that day

because they had nothing, and He did. The people of Nicaragua, just

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Sunday Quiet Time cont.

like this woman, have close to nothing and face far larger mountains

than we could ever imagine, yet their strength and joy is purely

immaculate because it is placed solely in the Lord. No amount of

wealth, social status, physical appearance, athle0c ability, or friend

group fuels their strength and joy. When everything else is removed

and all seems lost and empty, they place complete and uCer

dependence on the Lord to be their provider, source of strength, and

source of joy. I have definitely been encouraged by the people of

Nicaragua in that way and I hope you will be as well. When all else is

stripped away and your mountains become bigger than anything you

could have ever imagined, will you depend on the Lord to be your only

safe path and be the complete source of full of strength and joy?

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

I thank you for the mountains and trials that you allow us to face each

and every day we live on this Earth. I pray that you would be the

ul0mate source of our strength, dependence, and joy in the midst of

such mountains. May we use your joy to bring light and love to all those

we come in contact with today.

Amen

Caroline Hart

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Shades Crest Baptist Church

452 Park Ave, Birmingham, AL 35226

(205) 822-1360 www.shadescrest.org