CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Patrick Williams BA Biblical Studies/MA BS/THD
Marilyn Williams BS Business
Bread and Wine Ministry Shema is a teaching ministry of Ministers' Patrick and Marilyn Williams
OUR MISSION IS HELPING PEOPLE FIND THEIR WAY BACK TO GOD
We’ve seen the transformation hundreds of times – people who came to us full of doubt and uncertainty become secure in the knowledge of their rightful place in God’s great kingdom. The change may start slowly – in a Bible Study class or choir participation, perhaps – but once it begins, it picks up speed. The good works, shared experiences, time spent in prayer – all bring us closer to our highest calling.
Take the first step being born again!
Survey reveals most people panic when their phone battery drops to 38%
Older generations are more lax regarding battery life
In brief: Battery life remains a top concern for smartphone and portable device users. While researchers actively explore alternatives to lithium-ion, manufacturers often rely on software-based solutions to boost efficiency. A recent study suggests that anxiety over remaining battery life sets in surprisingly early – especially among younger users.
An online survey by Talker Research found that Americans begin worrying about phone battery life when it hits 38 percent on average. Some might view that threshold as conservative since it reflects over a third of the remaining charge. For example, iPhones typically do not issue a warning until the battery drops below 20 percent.
Among the 2,000 American respondents, most reported panicking well before Apple's 20 percent warning. That popup, which suggests enabling low power mode, served as a guideline for 34 percent of users. The least anxious group, comprising 13 percent, doesn't consider finding a charger until the battery drops below 10 percent. Meanwhile, 24 percent of survey participants feel uneasy before reaching the halfway mark.
Talker Research also found that older generations are progressively less concerned about battery life. Millennials and Generation Z (born after 1981) begin to worry when their phones hit 43 percent on average, followed by Generation X (1965 to 1980) at 38 percent. Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) don't start feeling anxious until their phones drop to 34 percent.
The study also indicated that most respondents (61 percent) choose to display the exact percentage on their battery-life indicator. The remaining 39 percent prefer the simpler battery bars icon.
Declining battery health is a primary source of anxiety for smartphone users. Although manufacturers haven't found a way to prevent lithium-ion batteries from degrading over time, software adjustments have helped mitigate the issue to some extent.
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Teens and tech: Almost 90% own iPhones, most use Instagram and Spotify
Google's new battery tech will lower capacity over time, whether you like it or not
For example, Apple's optimized charging mode limits charging above 80 percent to extend long-term battery health. Meanwhile, Google's new Pixel 9a phone automatically decreases maximum battery life after every 200 charge cycles to minimize the effects of inevitable battery degradation.
External battery packs are a popular physical solution, but Oukitel's recently introduced WP100 Titan smartphone adds more capacity through internal hardware. The bulky device features a massive 33,000 mAh battery, trading compactness for ruggedness and extended functionality. It can handle various functions for dozens of hours and last for months in standby mode.
Keeping your Eyes on Jesus
The Bible encourages believers to fix their eyes on Jesus as the ultimate example of faith and perseverance. Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
Taking our eyes off of Jesus is often the beginning of our fall. Hebrew tells us to fix our eyes on the Lord who is the author and finisher of our faith.
Taking our eyes off Jesus is the most dangerous thing we could ever do and it is also the easiest thing to do seeing as how we have so many distractions pulling at us. Focusing of Jesus is rarely an easy thing. Our old, fleshly natures conspire against any attempt to remain faithful to the Savior. We forget that our reward is Christ. We can allow the cares of this world to choke out the love for doing the will of the father. The Bible says “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier,” therefore we should keep our eyes focused on the Lord.
The above verse is used to illustrate that Christian soldiers should devote their service to God and not be distracted by worldly jobs or anything that may cause them to stray.
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame. Hebrews 12:2 KJV, means exactly that, looking to and keeping our eyes fixed on the finished work on Calvary.
Some people think that looking to Jesus means we do nothing ourselves. Just sit back and relax. On some level, this is true. We rest in Christ yet we don’t become complacent. As Christians we should never be overly confident, yet we should never be inactive.
To stay focused on Jesus you must first understand the purpose for running this race. The “race,” is the Christian life. It is a marathon. It is not a sprint, and we are called to stay the course and remain faithful to the end. Paul used this same imagery near the end of his life: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”.
The steadfastness of the Old Testament “witnesses” speaks to believers today of the rewards of staying in the race, of never giving up (1 Corinthians 9:24; Philippians 3:14). A marathon is a strenuous test of fitness and endurance. The race set before us requires faith, stamina, commitment, and discipline in order to live faithfully (1 Corinthians 9:25–26; Philippians 3:12–14; 1 Timothy 6:12).
The race is “set before us”; we did not select the course, for it is God who established it. We run this race for Christ. We stay the course in spite of trials and persecutions (Hebrews 12:4–11). As we run, we must “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Because He perfectly finished His race, He is the focus of our lives. We look away from all distractions because JESUS is already at the finish line (Lamentations 3:25; Matthew 6:33; Romans 2:7).
The race demands that we do away with “everything that hinders”—sin and whatever else threatens our relationship with God (Hebrews 12:1) AMEN. Anything that will slow us down or trip us must be cast off. The apostle Paul says “put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; and be made new in the attitude of your minds; and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22–24). With the encouragement of those who have gone on before, we rid ourselves of thoughts, attitudes, and habits that impede our progress (Romans 12:2; Titus 3:3; 1 Peter 1:14).
Seeing the race God set for us is a lifelong marathon, we must commit ourselves to run to the very end. A daily regimen of prayer, worship, reading God’s Word and examining our lives for impediments will help our Christian walk. We will persevere by maintaining a Christlike attitude even in the midst of trials (1 Peter 2:21; 4:1; 1 John 2:6).
No matter how long the race may be, we keep our eyes on Jesus, “the champion who initiates and perfects our faith” (Hebrews 12:2, NLT). There is joy awaiting. In the words of songwriters Twila and Starla Paris, “Runner - when the race is won, you will run into His arms.” AMENType your paragraph here.
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Moses raised his hand over the Red Sea, and the LORD caused a strong wind to blow from the east. The wind blew all night long. The sea split, and the wind made the ground dry. Exodus 14:21
The Israelites were God’s chosen people, and they were enslaved in Egypt. The suffering was great as God’s people were continually subjected to the whip of the Egyptian taskmasters. For 400 years the children of God cried aloud to God to relieve their suffering. Among the Israelites living in the land was Joseph, who was seventeen years old when his brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:2). He then lived in Egypt for thirteen years, between this time he served in Potiphars’ house and later in prison, and, at the age of thirty was released from and set over the land of Egypt (Genesis 41:46)
When Joseph was (30 years old) he interpreted Pharaohs’ dream that famine was coming over the land.
“So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt, and all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.” This was well known to all the pharaoh’s who would come in the future, and the children of Israel were an extension of the blessing of Joseph. But eventually, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done to save Egypt. And as Israel grew in number the Egyptians feared and enslaved them. They viewed the Hebrews with dislike because of their success. It is no different today, people hate the Jewish nation because of the blessing upon Abrahams’ seed, and we who are grafted into the Hebrew nation receive the same blessing as they do. Romans 11: 17-32
Israel cried aloud to God who heard their cries and appointed Moses to lead them out of Egypt. When Moses appeared before Pharaoh he asked him to release the Israelites, but Pharaoh refused.
In response to Pharaoh’s refusal God sent the 10 plagues that were intended to force Pharaoh’s to release Israel. First, God caused the water to turn to blood, followed frogs, lice, flies, livestock pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and the killing of firstborn children. Eventually Pharaoh released Israel, but in the midst of their leaving captivity, Pharaoh changed his mind and followed after them trapping them at the Red Sea.
The parting of the Red Sea was the final decisive act in God's delivering His people from slavery in Egypt. All of the plagues lead to this event, where God would deliver His people.
This miracle of God was when “Moses stretched out his rod over the sea, and God parted it. All that night the Lord held back the sea, and a strong east wind dried the sea floor.
The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left” (Exodus 14:21–22). When the Egyptian forces tried to follow the Israelites into the sea, but God removed His hand and the sea went back to its place.
Moses staff was a piece of wood that happened to be in his hand when God first inquired about it. Exodus 4:2, God asks Moses, “what’s that in your hand,” and Moses says “a staff.”
God took something of little value and used it to deliver a nation. So what do you have of little value that God can use to move mountains? Has God called you to deliver?
(Exod. 4:21) The Lord said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do.
The Purpose of the Staff was to perform miracles.
Moses was very meek. According to scripture we know he did not want to be in a leadership role.
Exodus 3:11:"But Moses said unto God, 'Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?'"
Exodus 4:10:"And Moses said unto the Lord, 'O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before this time, nor since that thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
First Moses was filled with fear and self-doubt: He felt inadequate and unsure of his ability to confront the powerful Pharaoh of Egypt.
Next, Moses’ was very humble, which made him perfect for this role in God’s plan because God wished to display His greatness to the Egyptians and a humble man would ensure that the focus remained on God, and not allow leadership to corrupt him towards stealing the spotlight.
When you are blessed by God do you take credit for what God has done? Did God really remove those burdens off of you or did you do it by using some man-made method or program? Moses chose to give God credit in all things.
The purpose of Moses’ staff was to equip him with something tangible to build his confidence, because God does not need a staff. Seeing the many miracles of God while holding the rod emboldened Moses giving him great confidence that God would provide what was needed to accomplish the mission.
God told Moses that the people will listen to him “The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God.’ Exodus 3:18.
So if the people will listen to Moses, why does he need a rod? The staff was to provide Moses with the necessary assurance that “he” feels confident that the people will listen. The staff was to embolden Moses and was similar to a point of contact.
“And God said to Moses, when you go and return to Egypt, behold all of the signs which I have placed in your hand” (Exod. 4:21). Here God refers to the staff as a tangible means for Moses to be mindful of God’s assurance.
Are we sure God will deliver you? Do we need a rod in your hand’ or do we believe God by faith alone?
Moses refused to accept the responsibility of dealing with the Pharaoh of Egypt because he knew everything about Egyptian culture. He knew he would have to deal with the sorcery of Jannes and Jambres, two warlocks he’d seen perform as a young man in Egypt. And though he was afraid to return to Egypt it was ultimately his fear of God that gave him the courage to face those whom he feared.
Are you afraid to face your enemies? Do you step out on faith trusting God despite how things look? Remember, we walk by faith, not by sight!!Type your paragraph here.