The memory verse for this week is from Matthew 22:37-38, "Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and all of your soul and all of your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment."
The most meaningful statement for me today is "to firmly anchor your experiencing God and knowing His will, you must be absolutely convinced of God's love for you." I started thinking about this beyond, yes I know God loves me. I think it is in the extremes of life that this belief is put to the test. When things are going really bad, am I absolutely convinced of God's love for me? It is easy for seeds of doubt to creep in when things are not going well. But I also have to ask myself that question in the other extreme - when things are going really, really well, am I absolutely convinced of God's love for me or do I become self-reliant? I think it is in the extremes that that statement of God's love must be absolutely certain.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Experiencing God - Week 3, Day 2
The memory verse for this week is Matthew 22:37-38, "Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment."
The most meaningful statement for today's study really was a question - If you knew all you had was a relationship with God, would you be totally and completely satisfied? What a hard hitting question! I can answer that, "Oh, yes! I'm a pastor of course that is true." But when I dig even a little below the surface I have to really check myself. If something happened to Kelli would I still be totally and completely satisfied with my relationship with God? If something happened to Caleb or Abby, would I? If I lost my job, if I lost my health, if I lost everything around me that I know and I am comfortable with, would I be totally and completely satisfied with my relationship with God?
I do know this, I don't want to find out. That's just gut level honesty.
Saying yes to Blackaby's question cannot be done quickly and easily. I even think it is a day by day answer that grows and develops as I mature in my faith as a follower of Jesus. What it is causing me to do is evaluate if I am making decisions about my life that demonstrate that I am totally and completely satisfied with my relationship with God.
The most meaningful statement for today's study really was a question - If you knew all you had was a relationship with God, would you be totally and completely satisfied? What a hard hitting question! I can answer that, "Oh, yes! I'm a pastor of course that is true." But when I dig even a little below the surface I have to really check myself. If something happened to Kelli would I still be totally and completely satisfied with my relationship with God? If something happened to Caleb or Abby, would I? If I lost my job, if I lost my health, if I lost everything around me that I know and I am comfortable with, would I be totally and completely satisfied with my relationship with God?
I do know this, I don't want to find out. That's just gut level honesty.
Saying yes to Blackaby's question cannot be done quickly and easily. I even think it is a day by day answer that grows and develops as I mature in my faith as a follower of Jesus. What it is causing me to do is evaluate if I am making decisions about my life that demonstrate that I am totally and completely satisfied with my relationship with God.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Experiencing God - Week 3, Day 1
It's the start of a new week. Great discussion last night about week 2. I love sitting under Stan and Betsy Hunt's teaching! They are doing a great job!!
The memory verse for this week is Matthew 22:37-38, "Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.'"
The most meaningful statement from today's study was - everything in my life - knowing God and God's will depends on the quality of my love relationship with God. That just brings such clarity to the desperate need that is within me to be in relationship with my heavenly Father. I am reminded of the memory verse from week one about how I can do nothing apart from Jesus. The more intimate my love relationship with God, the greater the quality of my life. That is so life changing. I must purse that love relationship with God. He is not holding me at bay, I hold God at bay with my busyness, distractions, and sin.
The responsibility of my intentionality toward God is tremendous!
The memory verse for this week is Matthew 22:37-38, "Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.'"
The most meaningful statement from today's study was - everything in my life - knowing God and God's will depends on the quality of my love relationship with God. That just brings such clarity to the desperate need that is within me to be in relationship with my heavenly Father. I am reminded of the memory verse from week one about how I can do nothing apart from Jesus. The more intimate my love relationship with God, the greater the quality of my life. That is so life changing. I must purse that love relationship with God. He is not holding me at bay, I hold God at bay with my busyness, distractions, and sin.
The responsibility of my intentionality toward God is tremendous!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Experiencing God - Week 2, Day 5
The memory verse this week is Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."
Today's reading had so much good content in it that spoke to me. Here are a few of them...
"The moment God speaks to you is the time He wants you to respond to Him."
"The quality of the father will affect the quality of following generations."
"Nothing is more pathetic than having a small character when you have a big assignment."
"If you can't be faithful in a little, God will not give you a larger assignment.
"God always builds character to match His assignment. If God has a great task for you, He will expand your character to match that assignment."
I want my character to conform to the character of Jesus. I want God to build my character so I can be faithful and obedient to any assignment He may have for me. I realize I need to honestly assess my character and seek to confess where it is lacking and surrender those areas to God.
Looking forward to tonight's session of Experiencing God!!
Today's reading had so much good content in it that spoke to me. Here are a few of them...
"The moment God speaks to you is the time He wants you to respond to Him."
"The quality of the father will affect the quality of following generations."
"Nothing is more pathetic than having a small character when you have a big assignment."
"If you can't be faithful in a little, God will not give you a larger assignment.
"God always builds character to match His assignment. If God has a great task for you, He will expand your character to match that assignment."
I want my character to conform to the character of Jesus. I want God to build my character so I can be faithful and obedient to any assignment He may have for me. I realize I need to honestly assess my character and seek to confess where it is lacking and surrender those areas to God.
Looking forward to tonight's session of Experiencing God!!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Experiencing God - Week 2, Day 4
The memory verse for this week is Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God."
The most meaningful statement for me today is - knowing God's voice comes from an intimate relationship with God. When I don't know what God wants from me or if I don't know where God is leading me, it's because I am out of relationship with Him. I'm not hearing His voice because the intimacy has been broken by sin or busyness. I must come back to Him in very specific and intentional ways.
I really appreciated the prayer on page 44 - "God, I pray that I will grow in my relationship with You so much that when you speak, I will immediately hear and respond." That is my prayer, today and everyday.
The most meaningful statement for me today is - knowing God's voice comes from an intimate relationship with God. When I don't know what God wants from me or if I don't know where God is leading me, it's because I am out of relationship with Him. I'm not hearing His voice because the intimacy has been broken by sin or busyness. I must come back to Him in very specific and intentional ways.
I really appreciated the prayer on page 44 - "God, I pray that I will grow in my relationship with You so much that when you speak, I will immediately hear and respond." That is my prayer, today and everyday.
Experiencing God - Week 2, Day 3
The memory verse this week is Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."
The most meaningful statement for me was - open and closed doors are not always indicators of God's will. I am amazed at how many people tell me that they are praying that God would open or close a door. I always have felt that wasn't the best way to pray and ask God to show His will. God gives us other things like the Bible and circumstances that should agree on the direction a person senses God leading them.
I think we want it too easy. We don't like to wait. We don't want to have to do the hard work of seeking God if it is in an area that we are not comfortable with so we use the language of a door. I want to be diligent in doing my "homework" of praying, reflecting on scripture, and looking at the circumstances around me to make sure I am walking in God's will and not just focusing on my own desires.
The most meaningful statement for me was - open and closed doors are not always indicators of God's will. I am amazed at how many people tell me that they are praying that God would open or close a door. I always have felt that wasn't the best way to pray and ask God to show His will. God gives us other things like the Bible and circumstances that should agree on the direction a person senses God leading them.
I think we want it too easy. We don't like to wait. We don't want to have to do the hard work of seeking God if it is in an area that we are not comfortable with so we use the language of a door. I want to be diligent in doing my "homework" of praying, reflecting on scripture, and looking at the circumstances around me to make sure I am walking in God's will and not just focusing on my own desires.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Experiencing God - Week 2, Day 2
This morning I read about God's Plans Verses Our Plans in Experiencing God. The memory verse for this week is Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."
As I was reading today and seeking to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I realized that what I was reading was one of those - you have a choice here moments. I could just read the material, answer the questions and move on to the rest of my day. But the more I leaned in, the more I listened, the more I realized I didn't want to merely go through the motions. Today's study is big for me.
The part that spoke so profoundly to me was the statement, "You need to know what God has on His agenda for your church, community, and nation at this time in history. Then you and your church can adjust your lives to God so He can move you into the mainstream of His activity before its too late."
This is what God has been pressing down on me for months now! When I shared in my vision message a few weeks ago that I believe God is calling us to infusion spiritual passion for Jesus into the lives of the people in Westmoreland County it because I believe it is in response to what God wants to do through us - and here's what God has been really pressing down on me that I felt weird saying to people...before it's too late!!! What confirmation to what I have been hearing from God.
Remember, we can't do it! But it must be done. Therefore, God will have to do it through us. We must be faithful and obedient.
As I was reading today and seeking to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I realized that what I was reading was one of those - you have a choice here moments. I could just read the material, answer the questions and move on to the rest of my day. But the more I leaned in, the more I listened, the more I realized I didn't want to merely go through the motions. Today's study is big for me.
The part that spoke so profoundly to me was the statement, "You need to know what God has on His agenda for your church, community, and nation at this time in history. Then you and your church can adjust your lives to God so He can move you into the mainstream of His activity before its too late."
This is what God has been pressing down on me for months now! When I shared in my vision message a few weeks ago that I believe God is calling us to infusion spiritual passion for Jesus into the lives of the people in Westmoreland County it because I believe it is in response to what God wants to do through us - and here's what God has been really pressing down on me that I felt weird saying to people...before it's too late!!! What confirmation to what I have been hearing from God.
Remember, we can't do it! But it must be done. Therefore, God will have to do it through us. We must be faithful and obedient.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Experiencing God - Week 2, Day 1
I don't know if it is just me, but last night's Experiencing God large group gathering was really good. Now today, I started into the second week of the study and it is also getting better. God is at work!!
This week's memory verse is Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses. But we trust in the name of the Lord our God."
As I looked at the difference between a self-centered life and a God-centered life and actually wrestled with the reality of my life, I confess that I do not have God at the center of my life at the depth that He desires. I have to desire that depth of intimacy and submission with God before it will happen. God will not force Himself into the deepest regions of my life.
The most meaningful statement for me today was, "God never asks people to dream up something to do for Him." I am a big picture - vision person. This statement really takes the pressure off of me. I don't have to dream up what God wants me to do in my life, my family, or at Charter Oak Church. That is so freeing!
I am to submit myself to God and watch, wait, and listen for where God is at work. I have two very specific assignments from today's study. I can't wait to watch and wait on God!!
This week's memory verse is Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses. But we trust in the name of the Lord our God."
As I looked at the difference between a self-centered life and a God-centered life and actually wrestled with the reality of my life, I confess that I do not have God at the center of my life at the depth that He desires. I have to desire that depth of intimacy and submission with God before it will happen. God will not force Himself into the deepest regions of my life.
The most meaningful statement for me today was, "God never asks people to dream up something to do for Him." I am a big picture - vision person. This statement really takes the pressure off of me. I don't have to dream up what God wants me to do in my life, my family, or at Charter Oak Church. That is so freeing!
I am to submit myself to God and watch, wait, and listen for where God is at work. I have two very specific assignments from today's study. I can't wait to watch and wait on God!!
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