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.
19 April 2011
07 April 2011
"I don't know what I believe....... but I know that Jesus died for me"
I hope everyone has managed to see Carls story and hear his words that I've used in the title. Words he spoke when he first came to know Jesus.
The verses that really spoke to Carl soon after were Heb 13:5 "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" and Rom 8:15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Knowing God will never leave us can bring amazing confidence. He is there in all of our situations (it was also pointed out in our group that it can be awkward sometimes when we know we're not doing Gods will!). For some knowing God as our Father isn't always straight forward as we have many different experiences of fatherhood. Some people reflected more on their experience of God the Father helping in their role as a parent.
Thinking about the importance of the Chritian faith not becoming a set of rules and with Easter fast approaching I was reminded of Jesus's promise before he was crucified.
Luke 22:20
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Jeremiah 31:33
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Food for thought.....?
The verses that really spoke to Carl soon after were Heb 13:5 "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" and Rom 8:15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Knowing God will never leave us can bring amazing confidence. He is there in all of our situations (it was also pointed out in our group that it can be awkward sometimes when we know we're not doing Gods will!). For some knowing God as our Father isn't always straight forward as we have many different experiences of fatherhood. Some people reflected more on their experience of God the Father helping in their role as a parent.
Thinking about the importance of the Chritian faith not becoming a set of rules and with Easter fast approaching I was reminded of Jesus's promise before he was crucified.
Luke 22:20
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Jeremiah 31:33
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Food for thought.....?
29 March 2011
Code II I owe everything to him, I will do anything for him.
It looks like there are plenty of worthless idols in our lives! We are surrounded by them and struggle to get by without them. One thought was at the beginning of each day to just bring to mind all that we have, the things we will use (technology, etc) ... give thanks to God for them then pray that we will not make them our "idols" but that we would pledge our day to God and worship him.
One good picture mentioned was that of somebody drowning but not being able to take hold of a rescuers hand for fear of letting go of the log he's clinging on to. There are so many things to cling on to instead of God.
Sometimes making decisions isn't easy. Getting the balance between what God wants us to give up and what he has given us as provision can be hard when we don't hear a clear voice from heaven speaking to us. We need to be faithful to God in our decisions though, that way his grace can pick us up when we do get it wrong.
Two people today have talked about being like coals in a fire and how removing one coal means it quickly loses it's flame. Let's keep close to God, together and encourage each other
One good picture mentioned was that of somebody drowning but not being able to take hold of a rescuers hand for fear of letting go of the log he's clinging on to. There are so many things to cling on to instead of God.
Sometimes making decisions isn't easy. Getting the balance between what God wants us to give up and what he has given us as provision can be hard when we don't hear a clear voice from heaven speaking to us. We need to be faithful to God in our decisions though, that way his grace can pick us up when we do get it wrong.
Two people today have talked about being like coals in a fire and how removing one coal means it quickly loses it's flame. Let's keep close to God, together and encourage each other
21 March 2011
Inspiration
Better late than never....Sorry!
Maybe we've got a more difficult 'mission field' than we've really talked about before..
The question "Why is it hard to believe that we have received exactly the same message and Spirit as the disciples?" is all too easy to answer. Yet we all long to see God move in power.
We thought about how comfortable people are where we live and the difficulty of sharing a gospel that can actually make life harder.
Probably none of us have ever prayed "Lord send more gospel workers here in the UK". As we talked about this there was a definite realisation of God wanting us to work together as a group.
I hope that we have been able to "inspire others with the message of Jesus" this week. It's been great for me to be reminded to put Jesus at the front of everything and to remember what he has done for me.
Maybe we've got a more difficult 'mission field' than we've really talked about before..
The question "Why is it hard to believe that we have received exactly the same message and Spirit as the disciples?" is all too easy to answer. Yet we all long to see God move in power.
We thought about how comfortable people are where we live and the difficulty of sharing a gospel that can actually make life harder.
Probably none of us have ever prayed "Lord send more gospel workers here in the UK". As we talked about this there was a definite realisation of God wanting us to work together as a group.
I hope that we have been able to "inspire others with the message of Jesus" this week. It's been great for me to be reminded to put Jesus at the front of everything and to remember what he has done for me.
08 March 2011
Sympathy
Great to get so many together again this morning. THANKS! Don't give up if you couldn't make it.
It was so good to think about Jesus living as a man. To face those questions we've all asked. "Did he really go through what I have to go through....even those thoughts that nobody else sees?"
Thinking more about this I remembered that tomorrow is the beginning of Lent. Forty days representing the time Jesus spent in the desert when he was tempted by Satan. My bible notes point out that this temptaion was very real, not symbolic. Have a quick look at Hebrews 2:17-18
Lets begin with this weeks first pledge.......
Thank God for sending Jesus who became fully man to sympathise and save.
It was so good to think about Jesus living as a man. To face those questions we've all asked. "Did he really go through what I have to go through....even those thoughts that nobody else sees?"
Thinking more about this I remembered that tomorrow is the beginning of Lent. Forty days representing the time Jesus spent in the desert when he was tempted by Satan. My bible notes point out that this temptaion was very real, not symbolic. Have a quick look at Hebrews 2:17-18
Lets begin with this weeks first pledge.......
Thank God for sending Jesus who became fully man to sympathise and save.
01 March 2011
Code I - Jesus is my captain,brother,rescuer and friend.
What a brilliant start.
Thank you to all who attended this morning. Apparently there were 17 of us, I'm not sure as I was having trouble focussing beyond the end of my nose!
It was great that everyone participated and didn't just give or accept easy answers, it really made it worthwhile.
However you choose to act on 'The Pledge' it may be worth keeping the study somewhere prominent as a reminder over the coming days.
Stand fearless in the face of my problems
Claim victory over anything causing anxiety or worry in the name of Jesus
Speak boldly about Jesus, who conquered death and whose Spirit lives inside me.
Trust God with my life, death and resurrection
Now please talk about it (whether you made it or not) and encourage each other! Matt.
Thank you to all who attended this morning. Apparently there were 17 of us, I'm not sure as I was having trouble focussing beyond the end of my nose!
It was great that everyone participated and didn't just give or accept easy answers, it really made it worthwhile.
However you choose to act on 'The Pledge' it may be worth keeping the study somewhere prominent as a reminder over the coming days.
Stand fearless in the face of my problems
Claim victory over anything causing anxiety or worry in the name of Jesus
Speak boldly about Jesus, who conquered death and whose Spirit lives inside me.
Trust God with my life, death and resurrection
Now please talk about it (whether you made it or not) and encourage each other! Matt.
23 February 2011
CODELIFE BEGINS
Hi Everyone,
As we all begin to have a go at 'living life by the code' I thought it would be good to have a Blog to record the highs, lows and funnies as an encouragement to each other. Remember if you can't make Tuesdays at 06:30 it doesn't let you off the hook!!
Find 10 minutes in the pub, at church, on the phone, at housegroup or wherever else works to talk about how you're getting on. The Pledges will be tough to stick to without a bit of help so keep talking, perhaps a regular time with a couple of people would work?
We kick off from this Sunday with Code 1 - 'Jesus is my Captain, Brother, Rescuer and Friend'. You're welcome to turn up at the chapel on Tuesday 1st March having done the study or ready to start, either way will work.
Please add your comments to the blog. All the best, Matt
As we all begin to have a go at 'living life by the code' I thought it would be good to have a Blog to record the highs, lows and funnies as an encouragement to each other. Remember if you can't make Tuesdays at 06:30 it doesn't let you off the hook!!
Find 10 minutes in the pub, at church, on the phone, at housegroup or wherever else works to talk about how you're getting on. The Pledges will be tough to stick to without a bit of help so keep talking, perhaps a regular time with a couple of people would work?
We kick off from this Sunday with Code 1 - 'Jesus is my Captain, Brother, Rescuer and Friend'. You're welcome to turn up at the chapel on Tuesday 1st March having done the study or ready to start, either way will work.
Please add your comments to the blog. All the best, Matt
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