Oh No. Please don't ask me the "How's your relationship with God?" question!
I guess that's how a lot of us feel when we talk about drawing near to God, at least I do anyway (unless I've had a particularly good week!). Still, better to be honest when it comes to these things. Apparently if you do something repeatedly for thirty days it becomes a habit (I'm sure it's less for nose picking, spot squeezing etc) and so one thing that has worked is to have a daily devotion for thirty days as a start.
Another tip this morning was to keep a journal of the things that stand out to us in our devotions, it's surprising how these times can add up. We also thought about all doing the same devotions as a group so that we can encourage one another more readily (I think Jim said I need to go to a church in Hawai to investigate further).
We also mentioned all that we're missing out on by not studying more deeply. The verses that we take at face value (or gloss over) can contain a message that we miss out on.
An important observation was that society doesn't program us to spend 'quiet times' listening to God. It's not really very efficient use of our time, not very Alpha male. A bit like the Pledge 'I owe everything to him. I will do anything for him. Everyday'. It's not always easy to hand over control and yet this is the privelege that we have if we want to.
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What a good morning, not getting past the first point for discussion about making time to draw near to God. It took more time to discuss than I will admit to spending regularly with God ! How can I be more do and less say? If time in the word is a key, and we want it to be more personal guidance through revelation than just a ripping yarn then we have to expect that God wants to speak to us personally at the time through the word. Lets get into the habit of asking what He wants to reveal to us at these times.
ReplyDeleteMatt, the wonders of the world wide web save you having to make the sacrifice of investigating the successful method of journalling used in a church in Hawai! No need to thank me for that tip, just visit www.enewhope.org and click on "learn how to journal" I have a couple of their journals (not filled in)if anyone wants to see and I pledge to (re)start devotions now, well tomorrow!
I thought this week's Codelife was really challenging, however I think that a crucial
ReplyDeleteelement was missed in the notes (the part "let us consider how we may spur one another one towards love and good deeds")..... in a way this is what is being achieved for us chaps via Codelife and the mens weekend away ... so good on Matt and Jim! Spurs are usually painful (though not as painful as supporting them??!) and it is an important aspect of our Christian fellowship that we are sometimes a
bit "spiky" with each other with a purpose to bring each other on and help one another grow of course.
Keep the pledges!
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ReplyDeleteHow is your relationship with God?
ReplyDeleteI am not sure where the end of this thought leads. I partly want to post just to say Hi, I am here even though I can't make the Tuesday mornings or the weekend away (or church on Sunday much at the moment) and I am taking this code life stuff seriously :)
I think I try my best not to be too 'spiky' with people because most people I meet have been Christian's for ages and have read the Bible and loads of other stuff much more than me. But I have to say, my relationship with God is a constant struggle as my Father disciplines my life to lead me away from the things that will destroy me. I read the Bible and it kicks my ass!
I pray that I am the only one who looks at my life and can feel God saying 'what are you doing? Why do you own a £600 TV when a £100 will do? Why do you need a new phone? Is that more important than buying medicine, let alone what is involved in mining the minerals? Deny yourself, pick up your cross and get on with it!'
Check: http://www.mennoweekly.org/2009/2/9/economic-exploitation-fuels-congo-conflict/
To feel awful about your nice new gadget.
I pray this because it is hard to look at my life like this - but it is also very exciting. So I pray I am the only one, because maybe it is only me that finds my standard of living a scandal - and then I pray we are all drawn to this (each to his own of course).
Spikey - Lets have a downgrade-athon, lets think that every time we do something without considering what God wants us to do with His time, His gifts and His money that we are turning our back on him.
Lets think that every time we don't take the moment God has given us to spread the Gospel, that we are hating God and our neighbor.
Lets thank God that he is so gracious that he saves us in spite of our actions, but then in response - act like we are going to do all we can to be worthy of that anyway
Lets not give ourselves a break (God had done that bit for us already)
And lets do it joyfully!
May be too spiky, may be not spiky enough.
Someone say when!
Hi all - "Acts of Kindness" .... there is a challenge isn't it. Mentally we assent to the idea (of course we do) but practically it suprises us. Take yesterday - I had read Codelife on the plane and thought about it alot .. arrived at Bucharest and was met in the car park by a gypsy lady (plus baby) asking in broken English for money .... well boys I wasn't quite ready was I so I just said "sorry" and kept walking ... oops! Note to self - practice what I preach! Fortunately in Romania I have many opportunites to put my slip up behind me as there are a large number of such people to show some love to.
ReplyDelete