52 Weeks of Ordinary People - Extraordinary God
Jody Neufeld
Energion Publications
Gonzalez, FL
2005
Copyright © 2005 by Jody Neufeld, All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the New International Version Bible. Copyright © Zondervan Corporation. 1996. Used by Permission.
Scripture quotations marked ‘CEV’ are from the Contemporary English Version Bible. Copyright © American Bible Society, 1995. Used by Permission.
Scripture quotations marked ‘ESV’ are from the English Standard Version Bible. Copyright © Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers, 2001. Used by Permission
Scripture quotations marked ‘HNT’ are personal translations by Henry Neufeld, MA. Copyright © Henry E. Neufeld. 2004.
Scripture quotations marked ‘NCV’ are from the New Century Version Bible. Copyright © Word Publishing. 1991. Used by Permission
Scripture quotations markd ‘NLT’ are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Copyright © Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 1996. Used by Permission
Scripture quotations marked ‘TLB’ are from the Living Bible. Copyright © Tyndale House Publishers, 1971. Used by Permission.
Cover Design by PhotoMD (photomd.net
Cover Photograph © Carol Everhart Roper
Energion Publications.
P.O. Box 841
Gonzalez, FL 32560
energion.com
Kindle Edition
ISBN10: 978-1-63199-008-X
ISBN13: 978-1-63199-008-3
Print Edition ISBNs:
ISBN10: 1-893729-24-9
ISBN13: 978-1-893729-24-7
Electronic ISBN (epub): 978-1-63199-009-0
Dedication
This book and all the ones to come is humbly dedicated
to my Heavenly Father.
Jesus prayed, “Father, the time has come for you
to bring glory to your Son,
in order that he may bring glory to you…
I have brought glory to you here on earth
by doing everything you gave me to do. John 17:1, 4 (CEV)
Acknowledgements
I thank God for the pastors (shepherds) that God has brought into my life: Rev. Perry Dalton, Dr. Robert McKibben, and Rev. Bruce Sheffield, who, like Jesus, opened their cloaks and showed me their heart for Christ each Sunday morning.
All the “ordinary” people that my Extraordinary God has used to touch my life, molding me like clay on the potter’s wheel. I am thankful that God is willing to break me and start again.
My children who have taught me so much about being a child of God: Janet, who truly has the gift of faith, John, a gentle warrior for the weak, and James, who showed more Godly courage and peace in his life than most of us know is available to us.
My husband, Henry, who encourages me, teaches me, and loves me because God said so.
Weekly Prayer/Study Groups
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. Proverbs 21:2
Weekly study or prayer groups are a VITAL part of discipleship. In these two verses from the book of Proverbs alone I hear the Lord telling me how important it is that I am accountable to other Christians who are also desiring to grow in the Lord. In a small group of fellow believers I will see how God intended His Church to grow as a Body, each member being gifted for the role that He has for them, networking together to support and encourage each other so they can go out into the world to spread the Good News.
This book is designed to give a short devotion that may be used to ‘jump start’ the group’s time together. The content page gives a listing of the 52 weeks with a note of how that particular devotion could be date-sensitive to the time of year. The space to the left of the list allows you to ‘check off’ a week, giving your group the option to skip around through the book or working your way from front to back.
Like its older sibling, Daily Devotions of Ordinary People – Extraordinary God, I have included some short notes on some of the ordinary people who have impacted my life and I encourage your group to take time at each meeting to PRAISE GOD and THANK HIM for the people He has brought into your lives, remembering that it is GOD who is extraordinarily working through these ordinary people.
God bless you as you continue to grow by the power of His Holy Spirit and the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
– Jody Neufeld
52 Weeks of Ordinary People – Extraordinary God
January
____ Week 1 New Year
____ Week 2 The impossible IS possible with God.
____ Week 3 Take ALL my life
____ Week 4 Thanks and praise
February
____ Week 5 Soldiers
____ Week 6 Valentine’s Day
An ‘ordinary’ person: Henry Neufeld
____ Week 7 Conquering fear
____ Week 8 James’ testimony
March
____ Week 9 What God says is the truest words about me.
____ Week 10 Friendship
____ Week 11 Father’s love
____ Week 12 Praising BEFORE the battle
____ Week 13 Easter time
April
____ Week 14 The ‘Judas’ in my life
____ Week 15 Taxes!
____ Week 16 Praying and Forgiveness
____ Week 17 God heals AND restores
An ‘ordinary’ person: Janet Butler
May
____ Week 18 Blessings
____ Week 19 Children
____ Week 20 No room to maneuver
____ Week 21 Evangelism 101
____ Week 22 Burdens
June
____ Week 23 Timing is everything!
____ Week 24 Parenting
An ‘ordinary’ person: Rev. Perry Dalton
____ Week 25 Church of the open door
____ Week 26 Finding a fellowship to call ‘home’
July
____ Week 27 4th of July
____ Week 28 Our nation and leaders
____ Week 29 Prayer
____ Week 30 Sharing
August
____ Week 31 Boasting of weaknesses
____ Week 32 a series: 1 of 4
____ Week 33 2 of 4
____