creative times with god preview

8/14/2019 Creative TImes with God Preview

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Dedicated to the three greatest children in the world:

Torie, Cody, & Cassie Fields

My prayer is that you would have great times with your

Savior as you continue to grow and follow Jesus.


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TableofContents

Introduction..........................................1BankonIt ............................................3

IAm .................................................4

DeadbutAlive ........................................5

AFriend(ly)JobDescription.............................7

$hopping$pree ........................................9

PraiseReport.........................................11

Tree-Sixteen ........................................12PriceCheck..........................................14

MySignificantOther..................................15

Wanted!.............................................16

RipeorRotten?......................................17

GodIsLike........................................18

ExchangeStudent.....................................20

WhoAcceptsMe?.....................................22

Yes,ImPositive ......................................24LoveNotes ..........................................26

GrowingStrong......................................28

PowerfullyWeak......................................30

GimmeFive ..........................................32

OneofYourFavorites .................................33

BlindInsight.........................................34

WherestheMatch?................................... 36

SimCity .............................................37FishingYourCrowd................................... 38

PuttingtheRomansogether...........................40

TeWinningeam! ...................................41

LivingItUp..........................................42

QualityParents.......................................44

PlanAhead .......................................... 46

FreedomBehindBars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47


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YourServe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

HeavyWeight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

BrandName. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .52

PrayYourCardsRight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

GrandEntrance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

ReportingtheNews . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

TanksforMe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

AWordFromtheSponsor . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Veryempting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

MoneyMatters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

NoWorries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61Tablealk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

LameExcuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

PrayerPattern. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

HolyMoses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

MissionaryJourney. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

StraightandNarrow. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

rainStop....................................

.....73

oSumUp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

ReachingIn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

InternationalIntercession...........................79

WiseGuys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

PersonalPolicy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

DiggingDeeper. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

KidPower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

MarkedEvents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

WonderWoman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

RadioWaves....................................... 92

GivingaCompass . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

WeveGotSpirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

ComicRelief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

DearMe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .98

ImTankful!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99

MakingMoneyCount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100Chaos&Conflict. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102


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RunFeetRun!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103WhatsYourIsaac? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104HasJesusGoneMad? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105HopeforaRainbow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107StrandedonaDesertedIsland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108DearDiary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109My

Version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111DistinguishedSpeaker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112TeMastersMail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113FlipforPrayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114All-Stars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115FamilyFeuds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116PoorMe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118MixingItUpandAcross. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120HandleWithCare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121


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I thought Id made a big mistakewhen I asked some teenagers inmy youth group what they thought about the Bible.

The Bible is boring.

The Bible is too hard to understand.

Why do I have to read the Bible every day at

the same time?

Id rather eat pizza than do a Bible study.

After hearing these negative responses, I decided to dig a little deeperand ask some direct questions. Im glad I did! What I discovered wasthat our teenagers really did want to read and understand Gods Word;they just needed some help.Tey wanted a practical resourcethat would help and guide them to Bible passages theycould understand.Tey wanted questions that would trigger themto think about how the Bible connects to them in the 21st century.Tey wanted something more than open Bible, read Bible, close Bible.Basically, they wanted something that would prompt them to be inGods Word that wasnt the same every day.

Tis little book, Creative Times With God,is one of the results of ourdiscussion.

Many people enter into a relationship with God with a desire to betterunderstand the Bible. Tey want to eagerly study it, memorize it, andattempt to live it out. In their early enthusiasm, they look to othersfor examples of personal Bible study. Its natural for adults to teachthe ways they were taught, saying something like, Have a daily quiettime at the same hour of the day, using the same materials in the sameway every day until you develop a habit. Te thinking behind this isthat a lot of the same equals developing a habit. Once equipped with

formats, structures, guidelines, and expectations, eager teenagers divein. I love the initial passion!

introduction


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But as time passes, they tire of the same routine and start to loseinterest. Teir Bibles begin to collect dust and they feel guilty formissing their spiritual appointment with God.

Does that sound like you? Do you need a little

variety? Would something different each day help

you look forward to digging a little deeper into

Gods Word?

Some of us can do our Bible time the same way at the same time everydayand if thats you, congratulations. But some of us need variety

and creativity to keep our quiet times fresh and alive.And thats greattoopart of growing deeper in ones faith is to spend time with Godthrough his Word.

Creative Times With Godwas designed to introduce a little varietyinto your times with God.I hope the devotional adventuresin this book will ignite your creativity and fire up your passion forknowing God more personally and intimately.

My prayer is that these creative moments youll experience will lead tosome habit-forming ways to spend time with God on your own.

May you grow more in love with God and his ways and have fun!

Doug FieldsLake Forest, California


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Bank on It

A Christian banker tells you he sees a lot of similarities

between his bank and the church. For example, he says,

with online banking and AM machines, the bank doesnt

need to be open for people to get what they want. In the

same way, the church building doesnt need to be open for

people to talk to God.

What are some similarities you can think of between thechurch and the following features of a bank? Add a few of

your own that come to mind.

1.

The building2. The money

3. The personnel or staff4. The vault5. Interest and/or interest rates6. The service7.8.

9.

Before you finish, read Acts 2:42-47.

Tank God for the local church body you attend, and ask

God to bless the leadership there. Pray about ways you can

specifically serve at the church.


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Dead but Alive

Galatians 2:20 reads,

My old self has been crucied with Christ.

It is no longer I who live, but Christ

lives in me. So I live in this earthly

body by trusting in the Son of God, who

loved me and gave himself for me.

In the column on the left you will find some incomplete

statements based on the above Galatians passage. To complete

the statement, connect it with one of the phrases on the right

side (simply draw a line that connects it). You will need to

think carefully about the meaning of the verse to make the

proper match.

has no spiritual worth.

is lived by faith.

is new life.

is the giver of life.

is in Christ.

My life now...

My life in Christ...

My human body...

My faith...

My God...

Rewrite Galatians 2:20 in your own words:


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Pick one of the five statements and write a short

comment about what it means to you.

Take time to express your thanks in writingfor Godsloving sacrifice. Ask God for guidance in your life

of faith.

A little extraWhat thing or things have to die in your life for you to

be alive in Christ?How are you going to kill them?


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A Friend(ly) Job DescriptionA job description usually explains the expectations that a boss hasfor an employee. Job descriptions clarify how employees should

behave, dress, and perform.

Read Proverbs 16:7; 17:9,17; 18:24;and 27:6,9.Ten write a job

description for a good friend, based on these verses. Include specific

qualities that outline how a good friend will behave.

A good friend should...


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According to this job description, are

you a good friend?Why or why not?

What are some of your strengths?

What could you do this weekto becomea better friend?

Think of one of your good friends andtake a moment to prayfor thisspecic person.


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