Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
The Critical Week
This is a critical week in our journey together. The first two weeks you have established where you are on your own journey, as well as some changes that might need to occur in order for you to move forward. But now that you have cleaned house it is time to put things in action. This is the pivotal point where you decide whether or not you are going to take this journey seriously. Are you going to be different when these 40 days are over? Are you going to be able to say that you were intentional and that you gave this your absolute all? Let us all answer with a resounding "Yes!" and start running.
Keep in the mind the enemy is going to do everything in His power to distract you. Don't be surprised by extra work loads or sick family members. He will be vigilant in keeping you right where you are. But don't fall for his tactics. Ask the Lord for the grace to continue and the energy to be intentional.
I think we could all comment on how the enemy is working to keep us from running after God, but instead let's share what God has already done in our lives these past two weeks. God has helped me reconnect with someone in an effort to strengthen that relationship and I am so glad. I have been meaning to do it, but kept putting it on the back burner. I did it last week and it felt so good to finally be obedient! How about you? What steps have you taken so far?
Keep in the mind the enemy is going to do everything in His power to distract you. Don't be surprised by extra work loads or sick family members. He will be vigilant in keeping you right where you are. But don't fall for his tactics. Ask the Lord for the grace to continue and the energy to be intentional.
I think we could all comment on how the enemy is working to keep us from running after God, but instead let's share what God has already done in our lives these past two weeks. God has helped me reconnect with someone in an effort to strengthen that relationship and I am so glad. I have been meaning to do it, but kept putting it on the back burner. I did it last week and it felt so good to finally be obedient! How about you? What steps have you taken so far?
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Personal Worship Blues, Part 2
The act of worship is a powerful one. It turns the heart, transforms the mind and changes the path of our lives. I have found the most amazing thing happens when I direct my heart to Him in worship. As I do so, God nudges my life along the path which He would have me go. My decision making is different when my life is centered in the worship of God. My priorities begin to reflect His priorities. And quite honestly, I am a better human being when I worship God (small wonder since He is the creator....). But not only that; because worship is an act which acknowledges the lordship of Christ and His right to rule in my life, those struggles which have their root in my own desire to be "the boss" seem to fade. Where pride lifts its ugly head, worship helps me recognize it for what it is. When I am angry, turning my heart to God releases me from that anger.
With all theat in mind, how crazy it would be if the only time we could do this were on Sundays at a church building somewhere!
I haven't given up. In fact, I have changed my strategy. I still work hard to carve out a time of personal worship every morning, but I have also learned to worship God as I go. I guess that's what I meant in my last post. I want to be close enough to God and sensitive to His Spirit in such a way that the act of worship is a very natural one which happens throughout the day. I'm not there yet, but I haven't given up. I wonder how my life would be different..... what about you?
With all theat in mind, how crazy it would be if the only time we could do this were on Sundays at a church building somewhere!
I haven't given up. In fact, I have changed my strategy. I still work hard to carve out a time of personal worship every morning, but I have also learned to worship God as I go. I guess that's what I meant in my last post. I want to be close enough to God and sensitive to His Spirit in such a way that the act of worship is a very natural one which happens throughout the day. I'm not there yet, but I haven't given up. I wonder how my life would be different..... what about you?
Monday, September 21, 2009
Personal Worship Blues
I wonder how my life would be different if worship were more central to my daily life? What do I mean by that you might ask? Well, this may not be an issue for you, but I find that the pressures of daily life threaten (daily) to sqeeze personal worship out of my life.
The heart of worship is bowing our hearts before the throne of God and agreeing with God with what He says about who He is and who I am. Or, as Warren Wiersbe states so clearly, "Worship is the believer’s response of all that they are - mind, emotions, will, body - to what God is and says and does." (Warren Wiersbe, Real Worship, p. 26)
How about you? Is this a struggle you face? What do you think of Wiersbe's definition? I'll post some more thoughts later, but would love to hear yours!
The heart of worship is bowing our hearts before the throne of God and agreeing with God with what He says about who He is and who I am. Or, as Warren Wiersbe states so clearly, "Worship is the believer’s response of all that they are - mind, emotions, will, body - to what God is and says and does." (Warren Wiersbe, Real Worship, p. 26)
How about you? Is this a struggle you face? What do you think of Wiersbe's definition? I'll post some more thoughts later, but would love to hear yours!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Laying it Down!
I am so glad that when we wrote The iLife Journey that we put a day of reflection in. Nick Howard gets the "atta-boy" for that thought. I am also so glad that we gave ourselves Saturday to get caught up, as I needed it in week one. So, now that I am caught up, let me ask you what was your biggest take away from this week?
Mine was learning to lay it all down. Beyond just my life as His disciple, I re-learned the powerful precept to lay my struggles, burdens, and desires at the feet of Jesus. I learned afresh to wait on Him. I had to lay down a desire for our fellowship, that I also see as a significant need. Yet, I, and the team that is working with me on it, have really struggled to get clarity of God's wisdom. I have been preaching, "To live, you gotta die first." Well, for this very thing, I decided to die to it. Now, I see the Lord moving in really amazing ways. His wisdom is coming into view and what took place this week was beyond coincidental. So, now I wait!
What about you? What is your big take away? By the way, keep it up! Finish, don't just start strong and fade away!
Mine was learning to lay it all down. Beyond just my life as His disciple, I re-learned the powerful precept to lay my struggles, burdens, and desires at the feet of Jesus. I learned afresh to wait on Him. I had to lay down a desire for our fellowship, that I also see as a significant need. Yet, I, and the team that is working with me on it, have really struggled to get clarity of God's wisdom. I have been preaching, "To live, you gotta die first." Well, for this very thing, I decided to die to it. Now, I see the Lord moving in really amazing ways. His wisdom is coming into view and what took place this week was beyond coincidental. So, now I wait!
What about you? What is your big take away? By the way, keep it up! Finish, don't just start strong and fade away!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
The iLife Journey Has Launched!
I hope you had a great day at one of our four worship services as we launched The iLife Journey with week 1, iLive/iDie: Reaching for Life. We want to make sure you have the tools for the journey. If you haven't gotten them, come by the church office at 6218 Auden and pick up the resources.
Tomorrow morning, we begin our reading together. I hope you have set some time aside and are anticipating some sweet time with the Lord tomorrow morning. Also, if you haven't already, go ahead and go through the Introduction and set some goals around each area of The iLife Journey.
Now, for the final part of this post. Answer this if you would: What do you want to see God do in you and in our church from The iLife Journey? Reply in the thread below.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
12 Days to the Launch of The iLife Journey
I hope that you are as excited as I am as we get ready for The iLife Journey. If you haven't gotten your tools, they will be available this Sunday and on the launch Sunday, September the 13th. You may also want to take advantage of a small group, whether through our Lifegroup mininstry at Crosspoint, our men's and women's ministries, or creating your own group. I look forward to seeing you on this journey.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
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