As technology arises, so does our Daystar Small Group in T-Ville.
As an improvement to our small group in the year 2010, God has given us the wisdom to use technology so that our meetings are more efficient. We will start using an online forum/blogger to post any thoughts, ideas, circumstances, problems, devotionals, testimonies, questions, prayers, etc. We are going to be able to communicate on a frequent basis about our walk with Christ with each other while making our once a week meeting really efficient. We hope this will improve our small group and help us with our daily walk with Christ! A lot of us are real exited about this. Please feel free give feedback on these new changes.
Thank You and God bless every single one of us.
Love Ya'll
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I've only been devoted to doing my readings every night for about a week. Last night I wasn't able to do my reading. Proof of Allen's message, "God's word gives us life!", my day today didn't go as it should. I was very unproductive @ work, I had a heavy dream, etc. My day felt really empty as if I had something missing.
ReplyDeleteHey Ricky, this is Lindsey...I like the idea of online discussion. I used to blog professionally and won some blog awards. I took it all down a few years ago when I went back to work full time, but I still do some freelance writing.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to remember to do my reading and journaling every day too. It's hard some days to fit everything in but we all know it is worth it!
Im in, lets get our blog on!!
ReplyDeleteRicky, a daily read is like that commercial with the jimmy Dean sausage where the planets are confused or the rainbow has no color. It is a kick start to our day and gets us on the right track to honor our family and co workers. Keep on trying to get it as a routine. Ernie
ReplyDeleteHey guys and gals, I'm in too!
ReplyDeleteLet's remember to keep each other in our prayers as much as possible. I'm waiting impatiently for Lindsey's prayer requests for this week. ;)
Ricky,
ReplyDeleteI don't think you should really beat yourself up over not reading everyday. Being in the Word is great, but it is not always easy to get into. There are parts that are easier to read than others for sure. I would recommend finding a reading plan that will keep you interested. Either by new or old testament, or by categories: sin, marriage, prayer, discipleship....etc. I have been reading the 1 year, but also, trying to dig into Paul and his writings mainly Romans right now. I have read it over and over. But I just like to read. Some don't, and that is ok.
I have also tried to start memorizing certain scriptures, mainly Proverbs, to recite in my head not just to say, hey look at me. But to know the scripture and have it on my mind when I can't read.
God wants our hearts, not our accomplishments or good deeds. These come from totally surrendering to Him. He should be our Joy and when we realize this, he works in amazing ways. Even when we are not always obedient, he is still working in our lives. He will never leave us or forsake us that are in Christ. Prayer is our life line, our communication to God. It is hard to "hear from God" if we are not connected to Him through prayer. It is hard to get an answer from someone you are not talking to, right?
So, what I am saying is just surrender your heart and life to Christ. Pray for guidance, find a plan to read through or what God is leading you to. Don't play the Bible lottery, just flipping through the pages until you stop on something, have a plan. Write down what you read and reflect.
Remember, we GET to read the Bible, we don't HAVE to.
Love you bro.
B.
I do not feel that God has ever abandoned us..it is usually people that have ignored God--We need to be in the Word and we need prayer, but that is just a beginning---I think, and I will use myself as an example, that often I am praying and reading the Bible and I may feel that God just isn't responding---when in actuality, as an egocentric child (think 5 yr old that wants what they want-when they want it)I am ignoring what God is guiding me into b/c it doesn't fit into my own plan---i pretend I am not hearing a response from God when deep into my heart I know this is not true.
ReplyDeleteI will use James 2:14-26 as my example here:
14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"[b] and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
As Ashton says, "There is a time for words and there is a time for action." I am very thankful that my God is understanding and patient in my growth process--he is aware of my defiant nature and knows (like any great teacher) just how to present his demands so that, eventually, he has guided me where he intends me to be---God breaks it down for me (baby-steps) b/c he knows that I WANT to do his WILL---and the growth process if often painful--but he gets me there. (An example of what I'm saying here: I may wish to teach-mentor impoverished-underpriveledged children, but God may know that I do not have all of the tools I will need for that position YET--so, he puts me in a position that will help me gain the tools that I need so that I will be capable of completing this big job for him--regardless of my own agenda GOD always puts me where he intends me to be...
anonymous cause I didn't have my 'stuff' set-up properly...
ReplyDeleteHere are a couple of good passages from Chapter 4 of our "How to Listen to God" book that are testaments to the importance of our quiet time:
ReplyDelete"The accusing voice is totally inconsistent with the written Word of God; thus the guilt is false and is a dart of satanic condemnation.
That is why if we neglect the Word of God and don't build it into our lives, when Satan comes along we're all too easily deceived. Since almighty God never tells to do anything to contradict His Word, the better we know it, the more readily we will identify His speaking voice."
"That's why as believers we should continue to mature so that we don't need anyone else to teach us. Although God has sent pastors as teachers, the personal feeding of our spiritual beings should be our number-one priority. We don't always have to have someone else to tell us what God is saying about a decision. We all, of course, need counsel occasionally, but on a regular basis we should be able to become humble before God and know the difference between God's voice and the devil's voice, between God's ways and the world's ways."
Chapter 5 is a great description of what Ben was talking about in his post above. Do we have a loving father or a demanding father? Patient teacher or intolerant teacher? Gentle guide or angry guide?
Hint: He's not angry when we miss a day of our bible reading.
BTW, the 2 Ben's are kind of freaking me out... ;)
Yeah, I don't know how that happened. I'll try to delete one of those Bens.
ReplyDeleteI like Jimmy Dean, and I like you Ernie. Good reply!! :)
ReplyDeleteOkay, ya'll...forgive me on the prayer requests. Marcy started puking (again) and then the snow hit. Sending them out NOW :)
ReplyDeleteFYI--I have a blog too, and you can follow me there. I tend to write hit or miss. Sometimes my blog is a big ole' brain dump and it could be labeled as offensive from time to time. Not really, but you guys know I kind of tell it like it is! Not always sunshine and roses over there.
Woohoo!!! I'm happy I'm getting feedback from my brothers and sister from another mother but the same father.
ReplyDeleteErnie:
I figured something out. I find that I need as much inspiration as I can get. The way may my days go, I feel like I have to prepare myself to fight and I guess thats every Christ follower's day but since this is new to me it feels harder than what it probably is. I new to me because being a Christian and being a Christ follower is extremely different. I've been a Christian since I was 13 but never a Christ follower. My job, my relationship with Surelys and my people surroundings are my biggest battles. I am awaiting guidance but it's like ben was saying if I'm not communicating it to God, he can't perform. One thing that I also need to work on is prayer and the reason why I haven't really brought it up is because I know that as I read on in Word I will find the importance of prayer.
Ben:
Bro, What you said, hit the spot. When I started to read the bible, I was reading the one year bible and it wasn't making sense because I felt like I didn't know what I was reading. I was reading the one year bible and reading it according to the calendar day but it's like looking at a piece of the puzzle and expecting to see the entire picture. I decided to read a book at a time and really getting into it. I've been zoning out and started with real small baby steps so that keep and grow. I started to analyse what I was doing and the problems was with my expectations. I'ts like you said, God doesn't want me to go through the motions, he wants my heart.
Lindsey:
I'm a big heavy sleeper and If you bring it up on the next small group, you'll hear the stories. One thing The I've done to really try to find time to dedicate some time to the word is giving up an hour of sleep. I usually try to get 6 to 7 hours of sleep but now I've been trying to wake up a 5:15-5:30 which gives me about 30 to 45 minutes of good solid meditation in the word. So far I've only had one accomplishment but if I can make it a habit, It will definitely work. The gym has been helping since I feel way more energetic.
Harmony:
TO BE CONTINUED.....
(http://theresurgence.com/dodson_evangelism_driven)
ReplyDeleteEveryone check this article out. This is something, as some you know, that is important and on my heart always. I feel that we should always be aware of opportunities to share our faith as well as living in a way that would prompt these opportunities. I have heard Mark Driscoll and Matt Chandler both preach on the fact that it is easy and common for us to herald, or promote a great movie, song, restaurant, or sports team, but it is not always easy, cultural, or urgent for us to herald Christ. This article explains it great, and I would just like us as a Church and a small group to be aware and think about different ways, situations and people we can and will share with.
So two challenges (Not as a competitive way but just try it)
1. Pray about who God would lead you to speak to or build a friendship with at work, school, neighborhood. This can be over time of course, but keep it in your mind and let's share and maybe even invite to Church or SGroup.
2. Encourage, engage, and learn with your kids/spouse/friends different ways and methods in which you can speak into peoples lives and showing them that Christ loves them.
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? Romans 10:14
Thought of the day:
ReplyDeleteAll our fret and worry is caused by calculating without God.
- Oswald Chambers
Oswald, what a great writer!
ReplyDeleteRicky, heard this coming Saturday is the BIG DAY. Do you need any help with Food preperations? How many people do you think are coming and do you plan on feeding them. Thanks, E
ReplyDeleteMore "thoughts" from a recent devotional I read:
ReplyDeleteEXTRA COLUMN: On Obedience
"The golden rule for understanding in spiritual matters is not intellect, but obedience."
—Oswald Chambers
"I was not born to be free. I was born to adore and to obey."
—C. S. Lewis
"Nothing is really lost by a life of sacrifice; everything is lost by failure to obey God's call."
—Henry P. Liddon
"You may as well quit reading and hearing the Word of God, and give it to the devil, if you do not desire to live according to it."
—Martin Luther
"When God gives a command or a vision of truth, it is never a question of what He will do, but what we will do."
—Henrietta Mears
"If two angels were to receive at the same moment a commission from God, one to go down and rule earth's grandest empire, the other to go and sweep the streets of its meanest village, it would be a matter of entire indifference to each which service fell to his lot, the post of ruler or the post of scavenger; for the joy of the angels lies only in obedience to God's will, and with equal joy they would lift a Lazarus in his rags to Abraham's bosom, or be a chariot of fire to carry an Elijah home."
— John Newton
"Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him."
—Charles F. Stanley
"It is much safer to obey than to govern."
—Thomas à Kempis
Missed everybody who wasn't at small group last night! We still had a good time though -- and a happy ending as Ernie's dogs ran off, but came back home by the end of the night. :)
Saturday is going to be the day! We having about 70-80 people coming! Thats just an estimate. I believe less but my dad taught me to always more than prepared. Both of our mothers and I will be handling the food. I appreciate the offer but I'd like for you guys to just come and enjoy. I have a lot of family coming from NYC which will be helping us. I very exited. I've been going like a diesel truck but don't feel tired because I'm so exited.
ReplyDeleteWhat time and where on Saturday?
ReplyDeleteIt will start at 6pm. The addres is 16 Castlewood drive, Thomasville, nc.
ReplyDeleteRicky & Surelys, hope it all went smoothly! Congratulations. Sorry we could not be there; we already had plans last night. I wish you all the best marriage has to offer :) See you this week!
ReplyDeleteChad & lindsey
Mark 1:17:
ReplyDelete"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Hey everyone. Hope everyone really enjoyed this beautiful weekend! I have been thinking about the message from Allen today and what it means to me and how it is applied in my life. It seems there is a lot of masks in the Church, I know how easy it would be to fall into that trap. I just wanted encourage all of us to live transparently, humbly in our everyday lives and in the midst of others, believers and non. I thought of a dirty cup when Allen mentioned the scripture of cleaning the outside of the cup. We all, at one point or another, have pulled a cup out of the dishwasher or the cabinet that didn't quite get that deep clean. Whether you already had a drink out of it, or checked it before, like Harmony does, you were pretty grossed out by the dried up food left on the inside. On the outside, it was totally legit! But the inside was filthy. I believe that if people knew our every thought and motive, they would feel the same about us. They may hold us to high regard, but when we are transparent, they see the "true colors" or how dirty the inside of the cup really is. But I believe this is good because we are free from having to live up to a standard. We find out who our true friends are and we are able to grow and not let the pressure mount.
ReplyDeleteProverbs 10:9 says: "The man of integrity walks securely; but he who takes crooked paths will be found out." (NIV) If we are to truly walk in freedom and grace, we will be open and honest with ourselves and others so that God's glory will be revealed to all. More often than not, many non believers I talk to say that the problem with Christianity is "they are a bunch of hypocrites." We are if we are not being honest with our lives and being open. Now someone who doesn't understand grace would see our failures as lack of faith or hypocrisy, but it would at least open up the door for us to explain grace and they would see that we are not perfect, but Jesus IS!!
Well, I didn't mean to go off like this, it just happens sometimes. All I want to convey here is that I am here for all of you and small group should be a place for us to work out our issues and struggles. It should be a time of fellowship and open conversation. Learning new methods and reading new books are great, but if we are not being honest or laying it all out, we are just wearing a mask like Allen was talking about today. This is not easy, but being a Christian is not easy. It is not always fun and games. But our joy should be in following Christ, loving God with all we are, and loving each other and being the Church. Till next time.....
Peace and Grace
B.
Benjamin & others---
ReplyDeleteWe were not at church today; our three kids are still passing the norovirus around and until we are absolutely sure we are not contagious we're keeping them home (Marcy's really sick, part of being an immuno-suppressed child with her genetic disease)
Anyhow, I can so relate to this. I participated in a church culutre for many years where you put on your best clothes, best shoes, and best smile. You went to church and kept quiet, cause all good kids did. You smiled and used your manners and you never complained or asked questions.
Then I got married and ended up at another church. It was more vocal; you were encouraged to speak up but it was more about telling how BLESSED you were. If you weren't blessed, something was wrong.
It just so happens that during this time frame we gave birth to a child (marcy) with a genetic disease, my husband's work slowed, and we were in a thick of tough times. We were asked repeatedly about "sin" in our life---something MUST be causing God to curse us or else we'd be blessed like everyone else around us.
I fell into deeper depression and my problems became worse; Church told me that I was too blessed to be depressed and if I was having "mental problems" there must be a sin issue behind it. I was ostracized and basically put to the side.
It was a humiliating experience. Anyone who has been depressed, very deeply clinically depressed can tell you this is NOT how to fix it.
I spent the next year of my life away from church and Christians altogether. Why bother if they only kick you when you're down? I'd decided to become an agnostic. I believed in God, but I didn't believe in God's people or His churches. In my heart I knew this wasn't right but it was a protective measure for the time being.
Fast forward to now...we've been at daystar for about a year now and I feel comfortable again with God. I still have many, many questions about "the Church" and why we hurt our own people so deeply. I don't trust easily and I very rarely open up myself for religious discussion. I keep alot of my feelings inside when it comes to Christianity.
But that's my story. I have a deep need to help other women who struggle with mental illness and the stigma it causes in our churches.
Lindsey
It is a shame that there are those in the Church that think this way. The questions that we ask about God are good in that they show that we are growing in our relationship with Him. Surrounding ourselves with good teaching and accountability and fellowship helps us in the growth process. Allen was saying that when we are not honest about our hearts with God or others, we repel those who we are trying to reach or do life with. The Pharisees were always trying to get people to live up to their standard, but Jesus said they were actually dragging people to hell with them. To tell someone they are depressed, they are failing, they are sick or they are loosing their job because they don't have faith is stupid. But that just shows their need for Grace as much as ours. But this tradition in the Church is what is killing the Church. Shane Claiborne said in "Irresistible Revolution" that when he truly started following Christ, God wrecked his life. When he started to live out the Gospel, to read it as it is to be read, he realized that it is tough but attainable. But it means to be transparent, to love others even when that is hard, and to trust God with everything. This doesn't mean to me that trusting in Him will make everything better, just look at Job. But it means that we have a faith and a savior to get us through the tough times, even if that means the tough times are our whole life.
ReplyDeleteBut living with our cup clean on the outside never brings the heart change that God so desires for us.
I hope and pray that you will continue to cultivate and follow your passion to help other women with mental illness. It is always good to walk out our passions and trust that God will use us in them to glorify His name and help others through us.
I am also praying for the sickness that is in your home. I pray that healing would come to all the children and you guys as well. It is hard when the kiddies get sick. Though I think they are tougher than we are because Harmony can tell you, I am a big baby when I get sick!! lol! But seriously, I am praying for all of us to be healthy and to all get together soon. Till then......
B.
Substance vs. Show. This is the world we live in. The pharisee of old would have been on "the view", oprah, MSNBC etc with their smugness in full view with the interviewers waiting with baited breath on every word they spoke. Nothing has changed, pharoah built monuments to themselves and the Roman Ceasers had people worship them. Before the scandal hit, wouldn't Tiger Woods have excepted a husband of the year award if it was offered? The masses are sheep, following people like Hitler,Jim Jones or Jesus. What is the difference? Christ was God and the example of truth. I am the way, the truth and the life! Notice that truth is in this statement. The truth means being honest in thought and actions. We speak the truth, live the truth and practice the truth. Through practice it will become a lifestyle. Be truthful with your mate, your friends and yourself, God created you and loved you while you were in the womb. True friends are honest, vulnerable, and open. A small group should be the safest place to share your joys, heartaches, fears and dreams. It is my hope that we are a group of Substance in a church of Substance.
ReplyDeleteAwesome dialogue guys...
ReplyDeleteI was catching up on my daily reading last night and came across these verses:
Mark 4:21-25:
21 Then Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. 22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. 23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
24 Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given[c]—and you will receive even more. 25 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”
I thought v.22 speaks to the dialogue that's going on here and vv.24-25 speaks to the dialogue our small group is having in our meetings lately.
Let's be keeping our children and grandchildren in our prayers. In addition to Lindsey's situation, Daniel has been having trouble eating lately. Kerlin thinks he might have acid reflux symptoms. He just had a good feeding though a few minutes before I'm typing this, so praise God for that! I said a prayer this morning and God immediately answered it. He is so good and faithful!
Lindsey, I'll be keeping you guys in prayer as well!
JP
Well said Ernie. It is easy nowadays to, say, portray our lives as something different than they are. Facebook is a good example. While I do enjoy FB, I have taken a break from it for a while. I am more interested in creating real conversations and friendships, though I have a lot of that on FB, I am just trying to be less consumed with it.
ReplyDeleteI wrote a blog a while back about how there are some people that think I am good. heh heh.
http://godmusicandlife.blogspot.com/2009/09/no-one-is-good.html
But if we are more honest and open with people, we may not get as much praise and adoration. It is not a bad thing for people to think well of us. But it can become ultimate and when it doesn't happen for us, we can tend to worship that adoration. But I want people to like me for me. The real me. I have always felt this way and have never really tried too much to alter that, maybe a couple of times if I am honest. :) But with you all, I will always be honest.
Guys/Girls, I don't have your phone numbers but I sent emails to see when would be a time we could meet this week and I heard Lindsay can't come and jeremy can't. Ben and Ricky, can you let me know if thursday works or should we just cancel until next week. thanks, E
ReplyDeleteHey everybody,
ReplyDeleteWe had an incredible meeting last night -- one of the more memorable I can remember since we've started meeting as a group. The Lord met us in a very powerful way last night and I want to give Him praise for that!
We weren't able to get to the book so I'm going to post my thoughts/questions I came with and maybe it can start some discussion.
Chapter 6 is titled "Are You Listening," and Charles Stanley lists a number of crucial ways we listen to God. There are 12 total ways he talks about and I put them in 6 groups. I'll quote sections of the book that hit me when it came to each of these. As these get mentioned think about whether you are strong or weak in listening to God in these ways.
1. Expectantly/Confidently
Expectantly - Throughout Scripture we have the promise that God will indeed speak to us, but if we come to Him doubting His ability to speak, we will have a difficult time listening.
Confidently - We must be confident that when we listen to God, we will hear what we need to hear. It may not always be what we wish to hear, but God communicates to us what is essential in our walk with Him.
2. Quietly, Attentively
Quietly - Quietness is essential to listening. If we are too busy to listen, we won't hear. If we spend night after night watching television, and then try to listen, we will find our minds jammed with carnal interference. It takes time and quietness to prepare to listen to God.
Attentively - We must have our spiritual antennas fully extended. We must be vigilant to discern the voice of God in the circumstances in our lives each day. We must constantly ask, "What is really happening? What does this particular circumstance mean?" As Christians we cannot divide our lives into secular and spiritual compartments. Our whole walk is spiritual because Christ is life.
3. Patiently
Patiently - We'd like to say, "Lord, here's my order today. Please give me an answer before I get up off my knees." It may be weeks later before God speaks to us about this, not because He has forgotten, but because in the process of waiting, He is changing and preparing us to hear His message, which we may not have received had He spoken instantaneously.
4. Dependently, Openly, Submissively
Dependently - We can never get enough education, enough experience, to live independently of the Holy Spirit. He must give us the mind of Christ or we do not possess it. He is not going to speak until we admit that apart from His genuine work in our lives, we are helpless to receive anything from Him.
Openly - To listen openly means to be willing to hear God correct us as well as comfort us, to hear God convict us as well as assure us. We may be looking for a word of comfort from God when He may have a word of correction. If we come to Him only for comfort and prosperity, only for what is soothing to the ear, then we will not always hear what God has to say. If we are unwilling to hear the correction, before long our need for correction will dramatically increase.
Submissively - We need to listen to God submissively, because sometimes when He speaks to our hearts, we will not like what we hear. When the Lord tells us something we don't want to hear, we may not react in total obedience. But God doesn't get hostile over our rebellious spirits, that's not His response. He knows we will struggle with certain things...Submission must ultimately accompany listening if we are to fully hear God. It is essential if we are to follow Him.
(cont.)
5. Actively, Carefully
ReplyDeleteActively - If we only know the Word selectively and dwell on one particular favorite subject, we fail to seek the whole counsel of God. The way we become wealthy and overflowing with the truth of the Word is to meditate upon Scripture, search it out, digest it, and apply it to our hearts.
Carefully - In this verse (Heb. 4:12), God informs us that everything we hear is to be sifted through the Word. Before we accept anything into our lives, we should filter it through Scripture and eliminate anything that contradicts Scripture. If it is contrary to the Word of God, it should be purged. That is why we must listen to Him carefully, because the Word of God reveals the innermost intentions and motivations of our lives.
6. Gratefully, Reverently
Gratefully - When we come to the Father, we should have a grateful attitude...When you come to Him, you should draw near with a thankful heart, because you do not come in contact with a heavenly Father who speaks to the masses, but one who speaks to individuals. That should invoke your unlimited gratitude.
Reverently - A reverent heart should be the foundation of hearing God. We should be in awe that we can speak to the God who hung the sun and world on nothing, the God who created all the intracacies of human life.
I guess looking back on this list, I honestly do feel like I have a lot of strengths in these areas. The weakness would definitely be in the #4 group. Not so much with dependently, but with openly and submissively. That's a struggle with me like maybe it is for many people. I do believe I'm getting better with those areas -- realizing that I've got some things that need work. Marriage will tend to do that to you. ;)
Kerlin is putting heat on me to wrap this up so maybe I can add more later. Please everyone give some input when you get the chance.
5. Actively, Carefully
ReplyDeleteActively - If we only know the Word selectively and dwell on one particular favorite subject, we fail to seek the whole counsel of God. The way we become wealthy and overflowing with the truth of the Word is to meditate upon Scripture, search it out, digest it, and apply it to our hearts.
Carefully - In this verse (Heb. 4:12), God informs us that everything we hear is to be sifted through the Word. Before we accept anything into our lives, we should filter it through Scripture and eliminate anything that contradicts Scripture. If it is contrary to the Word of God, it should be purged. That is why we must listen to Him carefully, because the Word of God reveals the innermost intentions and motivations of our lives.
6. Gratefully, Reverently
Gratefully - When we come to the Father, we should have a grateful attitude...When you come to Him, you should draw near with a thankful heart, because you do not come in contact with a heavenly Father who speaks to the masses, but one who speaks to individuals. That should invoke your unlimited gratitude.
Reverently - A reverent heart should be the foundation of hearing God. We should be in awe that we can speak to the God who hung the sun and world on nothing, the God who created all the intracacies of human life.
I guess looking back on this list, I honestly do feel like I have a lot of strengths in these areas. The weakness would definitely be in the #4 group. Not so much with dependently, but with openly and submissively. That's a struggle with me like maybe it is for many people. I do believe I'm getting better with those areas -- realizing that I've got some things that need work. Marriage will tend to do that to you. ;)
Kerlin is putting heat on me to wrap this up so maybe I can add more later. Please everyone add some input when you get the chance.
First, thank you to those of you who were there last night and for all you said and experienced with us. :) I have such a good feeling today; my burden has very much been lifted today. Please continue to pray for my anxiety and depression and for God to help me see through the chaos and confusion in my mind and to ORDER MY STEPS. That's the phrase I keep getting in quiet time---that God is trying to order my steps for HIM through HIM to HIM.
ReplyDeleteAs for Jeremy's synopsis, I have not read chap 6 yet but I can go ahead and tell you that the QUIET/PATIENCE part is HARD for me with capital letters. I'm not a patient person by nature and because of all the reasons we discussed last night I often find my mind cluttered or distracted.
So those are the areas I need to work on. Oh yeah, and submissively. I'm reeeeeeealy bad at that (big surprise!)
Praying for all of you this week. OH AND I GOT THE PART TIME JOB! YAY!
Lindsey,
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome stuff! Just your whole message...awesome.
I want to put a prayer on here for our whole small group. We have times like our meeting this week where we know God has met us in a very special way and we celebrate that. But just like we also talked about Wed. night, the enemy is never going to go away and we should expect that when our small group has triumphs he is going to come at us full force.
That has happened so many times in the past, just with our small group, that it's eerie. We'll have a great meeting and then the next day I hear from someone and it's clearly the work of the enemy.
So I want to share this prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Lord, we thank you for you're doing in our small group and how you're so clearly, clearly moving. We thank you for opening eyes and convicting hearts, for showering us with your presence and speaking to us the way that you do. But Lord I want this prayer to be about the work of the enemy. Lord, we know he wants to seek, kill and destroy. He wants to create conflict and confusion. He'll do anything to keep us from focusing our eyes on you and all that you want for us. I feel a burden that just like in the past when you have met us in a powerful way, he is coming back as hard as he can at our group and the individuals within it.
Lord, I lift up all the members of our group. I pray for your protection over them and rebuke right now all the work that the enemy is plotting and causing in all of our lives. I pray that you will give each of us confidence and boldness to take on our fight that is with the enemy. Remind us of Ephesians 6:10-20 that lays out our guide to taking on the enemy and engaging in our personal battles.
Help us to be a strong group, Lord. One that engages in the battle and fights for You and Your Kingdom. We love you Father and praise Your name. Thank you for this group that you've brought together to spur one another along to all that you have for us. We again pray for its protection, and not only that, but that you would also prosper it and show us your favor.
I ask all this in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
Oh my goodness. When Jeremy said we would be tested I had no idea how soon. Chad and I are going through a tremendous test right now in our family. I don't want to go into details; it isn't anything with us. It has to do with some unsaved family members verbally attacking us for things we have NO control over. Chad and I just talked and we both feel certain it is coming from the enemy because we've both recently really tried to "buckle down" with God. In fact, this morning before the attack came I had my quiet time at 5 am (a first for me). Please pray us through this 'storm' right now...we really need to stand strong! See you WEDS at our house!
ReplyDeleteLindsey
Psalm 86:11
ReplyDelete11 Teach me your ways, O Lord,
that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
so that I may honor you.
Lord, teach us your ways so that we increase our awareness of you every day. Grant us purity of heart so that we become more obedient every day. Grow in us a desire to know you and your ways more today than we did yesterday. And more tomorrow than we did today. Thank you for touching me with this verse today.
Thank you for all that you are! So loving, so forgiving, so merciful, and so good to us!
Love,
Jeremy
Hey everybody,
ReplyDeleteI read something yesterday and this morning that helped me with something Allen talked about a couple of months ago in his series on Grace. I remember he asked the question, "If I sin, will God punish me?" and his answer was an unequivocal "No."
I had a note in my daily reading yesterday and another one in a devotional this morning that said just about the same exact thing on the subject:
Judges 3:12
12 Once again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and because they did this evil the LORD gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel.
My note from Charles Stanley:
When we make it a habit to disobey Him, God may take an active role in increasing the power of our enemies. He does this so we will repent and return to Him, not to destroy us.
From my devotional this morning:
Nehemiah was modeling to each of us a spiritual principle regarding sin. Whenever we sin, we give God permission to unleash the enemy into our souls to deal with that sin. Nehemiah understood this principle and warned the people of what this action would encourage from God. The people repented and returned the money gained through usury.
I know it's not the most uplifting subject, but it was another revelation I wanted to share. We had a smaller group that night we discussed this, but those that were there know how I've been wrestling with that message from Allen since he gave it. Pretty cool when you get messages like that so close together as well.
Hope everyone is having a great day! See you tomorrow night!