Joani Ross

Guided prayers for children of all ages with related Scripture and space for personal notes and prayers.

A one-day small group Christmas / Advent study for teens, college students, and adults based on Isaiah 9:6. It is the perfect way to get together with friends and set your heart and mind on the true reason for the Christmas season."For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." In the workbook each component of the verse is broken down, focusing on the perfect fulfillment in Jesus. Written for small groups, there are commentary notes and discussion questions in the workbook, along with ice-breakers and break-out activity ideas available at www.givingsquared.com/Isaiah96. So, grab a few friends and a big cup of hot apple cider, and spend some focused time on the One who came to save us as foretold about in Isaiah roughly 750 years before His arrival.

Simon Peter was a disciple of Jesus. He walked with, talked to, and learned from Jesus for three years. He was even in Jesus' inner INNER circle of a few with a front row view of incredible miracles. After Jesus' resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Peter became a powerful leader in the early church. You might think Peter was gifted with amazing leadership skills, perfect temperament, highly trained and educated, pristine social skills and awareness, impeccable timing for knowing when to listen and when to speak. Maybe you are thinking you have nothing in common with Peter.Do you often feel unqualified? Did you find it not hard to follow Jesus, but yet HARD to follow Jesus? Are you often all in...ready to jump into action, many times prematurely? Do you like to take matters in your own hands? Do you find your intentions are often so much better than your actions? Do you often act before you should? Do you sometimes just miss the point? Do you put your foot in your mouth way more than you should? But do you also love deeply and you want so badly to be doing this life you have been given right? If you can relate, you may be more like Peter than you think. This is the Simon Peter we read about in the Bible. Unqualified on his own, spontaneous, "just fix it" personality, saying all the wrong things at times. And these are the characteristics I see in myself so often. God is ready to use us, quirky personality and all. He is ready to transform our messy weakness into His strength to do mighty things for His kingdom. He is ready to show us it is all Him, so we can relax and step into this freedom.Dive in with me as we explore the personality and evolution of Peter...from a mess to a mighty warrior for the kingdom. We'll look at the life of Simon Peter as recorded in the Bible...his time with Jesus, the incredible impact he has after the death and resurrection of Jesus, and his two letters preserved in the Bible.