Questions from Week Three:
If asked me how many Sundays I would be at church in the next year what would I say?
How does my relationship with my own father affect the way I see God as a heavenly father?
Whom could I help introduce into God's family?
What does my presence bring to the family table?
How could my absence affect other members of my church?
When I talk about my church, do I use the term "we" or "they"?
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Drawing Water
Questions for reflection from Week Two:
What would life be like if I talked to God the way I talk to my closest friends?
What would be the best time of day for me to consistently talk to God?
How could prayer change the way I think about myself?
What hinders my having a fruitful prayer life?
Am I likely to pray more for God's will or my own?
How often do I pray for people outside the church?
How does prayer change me?
Please feel free to post your response to any (or all) of the above questions.
What would life be like if I talked to God the way I talk to my closest friends?
What would be the best time of day for me to consistently talk to God?
How could prayer change the way I think about myself?
What hinders my having a fruitful prayer life?
Am I likely to pray more for God's will or my own?
How often do I pray for people outside the church?
How does prayer change me?
Please feel free to post your response to any (or all) of the above questions.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Overcoming Obstacles
When we are no longer able to change a situation,
we are challenged to change ourselves.
- Viktor Frankl
temptation:
Maybe you've committed to read your bible or pray every day. It's almost a sure bet that the devil will try to distract you with other things. It's important to remember though that it's not a sin to be tempted. It's what we do with temptation that makes all the difference; it's when we yield to it that it becomes sin.
understanding sin:
"Sin" is a word most people outside the church - and perhaps many inside the church - don't really understand. Sin isn't a list of fun stuff we can't do. It's stuff that separates us from God and others. God never asks us to do something that won't benefit us or others in the long run.
three temptations:
Satan tempted Jesus three times and in three categories. Jesus resisted perfectly. Hopefully we can do the same. We have to remember that to do so we have to be living lives that reflect Christ's life. Our busyness frequently makes it harder to resist temptation.
scriptural strategy:
The next time you're tempted, whether it's to satisfy your physical appetite, be an exception to the rule, or to become more powerful, remember what Jesus did. He stood on God's word. As James 4:7 says, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
dive in:
we are challenged to change ourselves.
- Viktor Frankl
temptation:
Maybe you've committed to read your bible or pray every day. It's almost a sure bet that the devil will try to distract you with other things. It's important to remember though that it's not a sin to be tempted. It's what we do with temptation that makes all the difference; it's when we yield to it that it becomes sin.
understanding sin:
"Sin" is a word most people outside the church - and perhaps many inside the church - don't really understand. Sin isn't a list of fun stuff we can't do. It's stuff that separates us from God and others. God never asks us to do something that won't benefit us or others in the long run.
three temptations:
Satan tempted Jesus three times and in three categories. Jesus resisted perfectly. Hopefully we can do the same. We have to remember that to do so we have to be living lives that reflect Christ's life. Our busyness frequently makes it harder to resist temptation.
scriptural strategy:
The next time you're tempted, whether it's to satisfy your physical appetite, be an exception to the rule, or to become more powerful, remember what Jesus did. He stood on God's word. As James 4:7 says, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
dive in:
- How could the enemy try to keep me from moving ahead in my walk with God?
- How could God help me fight temptation?
- Who in my life could I confide in and ask for prayer in overcoming temptation?
Friday, October 5, 2007
Love Your Neighbor
God has not called us to see through each other,
but to see each other through.
- Author Unknown
What does Love really mean? Jesus told us to do it in John 13:34-35: "So now I am giving you a new commanement: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."
We're told in the beatitudes that: "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand it's own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."
Do we really love like that?
love in action:
If we'll see the world around us through the eyes of Christ, we will see people as they could be.
We need to see the world through a window and not a mirror. Our focus should be on others and not ourselves.
acceptance and forgiveness:
If we accept the people around us as Christ accepts us "then God will be glorified." (Romans 15:7) Jesus prayed "Father forgbive these people, because they don't know what they're doing." (Luke 23:34) We should imitate Christ and forgive just as freely those who have wronged us. And we shouldn't keep a record of the wrong that we flaunt in others face.
humility and authenticity:
"Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!" (Romans 12:16) How sad it is when we come across as thinking we're better than others, or that we have all the answers! Sooner or later as it's long been said, "Pride comes before a fall." Sooner or later the one doing the judging will be judged.
dive in:
but to see each other through.
- Author Unknown
What does Love really mean? Jesus told us to do it in John 13:34-35: "So now I am giving you a new commanement: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."
We're told in the beatitudes that: "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand it's own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."
Do we really love like that?
love in action:
If we'll see the world around us through the eyes of Christ, we will see people as they could be.
We need to see the world through a window and not a mirror. Our focus should be on others and not ourselves.
acceptance and forgiveness:
If we accept the people around us as Christ accepts us "then God will be glorified." (Romans 15:7) Jesus prayed "Father forgbive these people, because they don't know what they're doing." (Luke 23:34) We should imitate Christ and forgive just as freely those who have wronged us. And we shouldn't keep a record of the wrong that we flaunt in others face.
humility and authenticity:
"Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!" (Romans 12:16) How sad it is when we come across as thinking we're better than others, or that we have all the answers! Sooner or later as it's long been said, "Pride comes before a fall." Sooner or later the one doing the judging will be judged.
dive in:
- What's my biggest challenge when it comes to loving other people?
- How could God change that?
- Is there anyone that I'm holding a grudge against? If so what can I do to turn the situation around?
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Finding a Niche
Certain it is that man must completely despair of himself in order to become fit to receive the grace of Christ.
- Martin Luther
everybody's a winner:
We're the Body of Christ and all the parts have a job to do. Whenever we take time to reach out to a sick neighbor or teach a Sunday School class we're helping change those people's lives.
made by design:
God's word teaches us that we were beautifully and perfectly designed by God.
all things are possible :
Since the dawn of the Olympic games man has sought to run a 4 minute mile. It wasn't until 1954 that Roger Bannister was able to run a mile in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. That same year more than 39 other people ran a mile in under 4 minutes. The year after that hundreds more did. The world will tell us that things are impossible. They might even try to tell us that working on a relationship with God is impossible or that it isn't worth the effort. The Bible tells us that with man some things are indeed possible. But according to Matthew 19:27, "with God everything is possible."
Bannister had to believe that the impossible was possible, or he would have never tried to run the race. He must have believed that he could make a difference and have a lasting impact on the world around him.
group effort:
One more thing about Bannister: He didn't run alone. The race was very carefully planned - there were two pacesetters that ran with him. One in front and one behind so Bannister could stay at the pace he needed to break the record. In the middle of the race, the one behind ran forward and the frontrunner fell back. That way neither of the pacesetters was too taxed. In the last stretch Bannister picked up speed, lengthened his stried, and finished the race alone.
You can't break a world record alone. That's probably not what God is calling you to do right now. But whatever you're called to, know that your willingness to take your place on the track will put you a step closer to discovering and fulfilling God's intentions for you.
dive in:
- Martin Luther
everybody's a winner:
We're the Body of Christ and all the parts have a job to do. Whenever we take time to reach out to a sick neighbor or teach a Sunday School class we're helping change those people's lives.
made by design:
God's word teaches us that we were beautifully and perfectly designed by God.
"You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Eveyr moment was laid out before a single day had passed."
all things are possible :
Since the dawn of the Olympic games man has sought to run a 4 minute mile. It wasn't until 1954 that Roger Bannister was able to run a mile in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. That same year more than 39 other people ran a mile in under 4 minutes. The year after that hundreds more did. The world will tell us that things are impossible. They might even try to tell us that working on a relationship with God is impossible or that it isn't worth the effort. The Bible tells us that with man some things are indeed possible. But according to Matthew 19:27, "with God everything is possible."
Bannister had to believe that the impossible was possible, or he would have never tried to run the race. He must have believed that he could make a difference and have a lasting impact on the world around him.
group effort:
One more thing about Bannister: He didn't run alone. The race was very carefully planned - there were two pacesetters that ran with him. One in front and one behind so Bannister could stay at the pace he needed to break the record. In the middle of the race, the one behind ran forward and the frontrunner fell back. That way neither of the pacesetters was too taxed. In the last stretch Bannister picked up speed, lengthened his stried, and finished the race alone.
You can't break a world record alone. That's probably not what God is calling you to do right now. But whatever you're called to, know that your willingness to take your place on the track will put you a step closer to discovering and fulfilling God's intentions for you.
dive in:
- Am I a functioning part of the Body of Christ? Why or Why not?
- Has there ever been a time I should have stepped up to the plate but didn't? What was the result?
- How could God use me if I were committed to following his lead instead of my own?
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Great Expectations
What we are is God's gift to us.
What we become is our gift to God.
- Elanor Powell
The Real Deal:
We're to be really committed, and authentic Christians. We don't need to be fakes. When we're committed we're establishing priorities, as in Matthew 6:33. Putting God's Kingdom first will insure that everything else will be okay.
Follow the Leader:
Jesus called Peter and Andrew from their fishing boats and they followed. The left their means to earn a living immediately and followed Christ. When we're invited to follow we just need to take the first step.
A Little Consideration:
God wants to bless us, but he wants to know we're serious. We have to be faithful in the little things, not because we feel like we have to, but because we want to. As Luke 16:10 says, "Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones."
Focus:
We've got to be willing to sacrifice something. Usually that means we choose to please God rather than choosing to please other people. If you can get this nailed down, it'll save you a lot of trouble. When we try to please everyone, we can lose our own sense of what's right and what's not.
Be Deliberate:
Commitment means making a conscious choice about what we're going to believe and who we're going to serve. We need to carefully consider our decision and count the cost. Whom do we serve? Who is the master in our lives?
When we really do put God first we're able to balance out all the rest. When we spend time in God's presence every day we can more clearly distinguish between things that are important and things that are insignificant.
Dive In:
What we become is our gift to God.
- Elanor Powell
The Real Deal:
We're to be really committed, and authentic Christians. We don't need to be fakes. When we're committed we're establishing priorities, as in Matthew 6:33. Putting God's Kingdom first will insure that everything else will be okay.
Follow the Leader:
Jesus called Peter and Andrew from their fishing boats and they followed. The left their means to earn a living immediately and followed Christ. When we're invited to follow we just need to take the first step.
A Little Consideration:
God wants to bless us, but he wants to know we're serious. We have to be faithful in the little things, not because we feel like we have to, but because we want to. As Luke 16:10 says, "Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones."
Focus:
We've got to be willing to sacrifice something. Usually that means we choose to please God rather than choosing to please other people. If you can get this nailed down, it'll save you a lot of trouble. When we try to please everyone, we can lose our own sense of what's right and what's not.
Be Deliberate:
Commitment means making a conscious choice about what we're going to believe and who we're going to serve. We need to carefully consider our decision and count the cost. Whom do we serve? Who is the master in our lives?
When we really do put God first we're able to balance out all the rest. When we spend time in God's presence every day we can more clearly distinguish between things that are important and things that are insignificant.
Dive In:
- On a scale of one to ten, how committed am I to seeing God as the master of my life?
- What things compete with God to take control in my life?
- How could making God my top priority change my circumstances?
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