I don't know about you but I live in a Christian community where conflict is normal and I expect it. As a follower of Jesus I, again and again, walk with people who misunderstand or get offended by one thing or another. Not only that, but I misunderstand others, or get offended by what others have to say. This makes Christian life hard and sometimes, I want to just give up.
Giving up, I find, is not an option. But conflict is hard. I admit that I don't always deal with conflict well. The closer the person is (wife, good friend) the more that I am tempted to "go to war". But I am learning and I am growing. Below are a few lessons that I have learned over the last 12 years. Maybe they will be helpful as all of us learn to be the community of Jesus.
1) We must follow Matthew 18:15-17. This is just basic wisdom. If your brother sins against you, go to him. So much hurt, anger and misunderstanding could be fixed by going directly to the one you are angry with. Though processing with a few trusted friends is beneficial and appropriate, anything else verges on gossip.
2) At my best, as I enter into conflict, I remember the words of Paul in I Corinthians 13... Some of the verses that I try to keep in the forefront as I enter into conflict are:
A) Love never gives up
b) Love doesn't strut
c) Love doesn't fly off the handle
d) Love doesn't keep score of the sins of others
e) Love puts up with anything
f) Love always looks for the best
I am pretty sure that if these were the boundaries of conflict on both sides, things would always turn out well.
3) Conflict is healthy. It is my experience that conflict is good and healthy when it is dealing with reality, boundaried by love and informed by biblical principles. Saying nothing might seem better but it doesn't work. Bitterness will take root and you will find yourself imprisoned by thoughts and feelings that can destroy a life. Conflict leads us to die to self and really deal with one another as we actually are. Conflict, when done well, can bring about God's best and it definitely grows us up.
Well, there you go! This has been good for me to get out on paper (is that what you say on a blog!). As I have been reflecting on this I am reminded of part of Philippians 2 in "The Message":
"If you have gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care--then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand."
I want this to be my heart. It isn't only about being right, it is also about loving well. I pray that I continue to grow in love in the days to come.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Catalyst schedule
Hey All!
Last week, Catalyst began meeting for the new year. It was a great night to reconnect and see all of you.
Our next meeting is Thursday, February 5th @ 7pm in the Garage! Please note that there is no meeting this Thursday!
We will continue in our series, "Living in the Story." On 2/5 we will look at how Jesus is the central point of the story and how that applies to us.
I really encourage you to think about friends you can bring and if you haven't been in while, this is a great moment to come and reconnect.
Word!
Ron C.
Last week, Catalyst began meeting for the new year. It was a great night to reconnect and see all of you.
Our next meeting is Thursday, February 5th @ 7pm in the Garage! Please note that there is no meeting this Thursday!
We will continue in our series, "Living in the Story." On 2/5 we will look at how Jesus is the central point of the story and how that applies to us.
I really encourage you to think about friends you can bring and if you haven't been in while, this is a great moment to come and reconnect.
Word!
Ron C.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Needing Christ
Taken from an essay of Don Williams (get his essay here)
:
"Jonathan Edwards [Edwards was one of the leaders of the Great Awakening in the 13 Colonies before the Revolutionary War. Many scholars hold him to be the greatest intellect produced on American soil. He became President of “The College of New Jersey” which is today Princeton University.]: “ As I rode out into the woods for my health, in 1737, having alighted from my horse in a retired place, as my manner commonly has been, to walk for divine contemplation and prayer, I had a view that was for me extraordinary, of the glory of the Son of God, as Mediator between God and man, and His wonderful, great, full, pure and sweet grace and love, and meek and gentle condescension. This grace that appeared so calm and sweet, appeared also great above the heavens. The person of Christ appeared ineffably excellent with an excellency great enough to swallow up all thoughts and conceptions, which continued, as near as I can judge, about an hour; such as to keep me a greater part of the time in a flood of tears, and weeping aloud. I felt an ardency of soul to be, what I know not otherwise how to express, emptied and annihilated; to lie in the dust, and to be full of Christ alone; to love him with a holy and pure love; to trust in Him; to live upon Him; to serve Him and to be perfectly sanctified and made pure, with a divine and heavenly purity."
Lord, this morning, I desire for you to visit me. I desire to get my eyes "off of what is right in front of me." I desire "to look up to where You are. That is where the action is."
So many things compete for my attention--job, school, family, worries, anger, joy, guilt. I want to have you center...this morning.
Lord, may it be so.
Amen.
:
"Jonathan Edwards [Edwards was one of the leaders of the Great Awakening in the 13 Colonies before the Revolutionary War. Many scholars hold him to be the greatest intellect produced on American soil. He became President of “The College of New Jersey” which is today Princeton University.]: “ As I rode out into the woods for my health, in 1737, having alighted from my horse in a retired place, as my manner commonly has been, to walk for divine contemplation and prayer, I had a view that was for me extraordinary, of the glory of the Son of God, as Mediator between God and man, and His wonderful, great, full, pure and sweet grace and love, and meek and gentle condescension. This grace that appeared so calm and sweet, appeared also great above the heavens. The person of Christ appeared ineffably excellent with an excellency great enough to swallow up all thoughts and conceptions, which continued, as near as I can judge, about an hour; such as to keep me a greater part of the time in a flood of tears, and weeping aloud. I felt an ardency of soul to be, what I know not otherwise how to express, emptied and annihilated; to lie in the dust, and to be full of Christ alone; to love him with a holy and pure love; to trust in Him; to live upon Him; to serve Him and to be perfectly sanctified and made pure, with a divine and heavenly purity."
Lord, this morning, I desire for you to visit me. I desire to get my eyes "off of what is right in front of me." I desire "to look up to where You are. That is where the action is."
So many things compete for my attention--job, school, family, worries, anger, joy, guilt. I want to have you center...this morning.
Lord, may it be so.
Amen.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Catalyst ski trip
I wanted to let you know that the Catalyst ski trip is quickly approaching. The trip will be from 2/20/09 - 2/22/09. It is a real blast and a great way to form community. Ask anyone who went last year.
If you register by Friday, you will receive a discounted price. The prices are:
Earlybird price $70 for Retreat only
After 1/16/09 - $80 for Retreat only
Ski Rental - $22
Lift Ticket - $36
Bus Transportation - $10
(required to take bus to ski) (You are not required to ski, obviously!)
Deadline to register is February 11, 2009
To sign up go to:
www.faithchurchonline.org
(click on the "Catalyst" tab, and then click on "Events".)
Don't let money be an issue; if you have any need, let me know and we might be able to offer a scholarship.
I hope you can make it.
Ron C.
p.s. The Catalyst service resumes this Thursday night at 7pm in "the garage" @ Faith Church.
If you register by Friday, you will receive a discounted price. The prices are:
Earlybird price $70 for Retreat only
After 1/16/09 - $80 for Retreat only
Ski Rental - $22
Lift Ticket - $36
Bus Transportation - $10
(required to take bus to ski) (You are not required to ski, obviously!)
Deadline to register is February 11, 2009
To sign up go to:
www.faithchurchonline.org
(click on the "Catalyst" tab, and then click on "Events".)
Don't let money be an issue; if you have any need, let me know and we might be able to offer a scholarship.
I hope you can make it.
Ron C.
p.s. The Catalyst service resumes this Thursday night at 7pm in "the garage" @ Faith Church.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Psalm 23...A Prayer
The Lord is my shepherd
I will not be in want
He will make me lie down in green pastures
He will lead me beside quiet waters.
He will restore my soul.
He will lead me in path of righteousness
for His name sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil
for you are with me
Your rod and your staff
they comfort me.
You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies
My head is anointed with oil.
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow after me all the days of my life
And
I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Amen
I will not be in want
He will make me lie down in green pastures
He will lead me beside quiet waters.
He will restore my soul.
He will lead me in path of righteousness
for His name sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil
for you are with me
Your rod and your staff
they comfort me.
You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies
My head is anointed with oil.
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow after me all the days of my life
And
I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Amen
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Catalyst's service is starting back up!
It's a new year and we are starting a new series: "Living in the Story." On Thursday night (1/15), we will look at "Living in the Story: New Beginnings."
Would you like a fresh start with life,work, and faith? Then come experience new beginnings.
Also, we will continue with our mini-churches that we had during 40 days of purpose. So if you were part of one, this is a great chance to reconnect. If you have never checked out a mini-church this is a perfect moment to try.
We look forward to seeing you.
Would you like a fresh start with life,work, and faith? Then come experience new beginnings.
Also, we will continue with our mini-churches that we had during 40 days of purpose. So if you were part of one, this is a great chance to reconnect. If you have never checked out a mini-church this is a perfect moment to try.
We look forward to seeing you.
Prayer: more Dallas Willard
(This was a teaching/small group lesson I recently prepared).
Introduction (5 Minutes): Welcome and prayer. Today we are going to look at the phrase, “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”; it is found in the midst of the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6.
Small Group Discussion (5 minutes): I want you to discuss in your small groups what are your initial thoughts about this phrase? What does it mean?
Large Group (5 minutes): I want to read some excerpts from Dallas Willard”s book The Divine Conspiracy (each person will have a copy of the quote).
“The final request [of the Lord’s Prayer] asks our Father not to put us to the test. ‘Don’t bring us into temptation.’ The ‘temptation’ here is not primarily temptation to sin. Trials always tempt us to sin, however. And temptation to sin is always a trial, which we might fail by falling into sin…This request is not just for evasion of pain and of things we don’t like, though it frankly is that. It expresses the understanding that we can’t stand up under very much pressure, and that it is not a good thing for us to suffer. It is a vote of ‘no confidence’ in our own abilities…God expects us to pray that we will escape trials, and we should do it. The bad things that happen to us are always challenges to our faith, and we may not be able to stand under them. They are dangerous.” (The Divine Conspiracy, pg 265)
Small Groups (25 Minutes):
Each small group will be given a scripture reference; they are to use the Dallas Willard quote as a tool to for interpretation. Each group will have specific questions to answer. They will, after their discussion, will come back and report.
Small Group #1
Matthew 26:36-46
36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
42He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
(Remember to refer to Willard’s quote!)
1) What does this story say about Jesus?
2) God allows Jesus to continuing suffering, is this the normal way that God acts with humans? Explain your answer.
3) Why do you think the Father does not answer his son’s prayer?
4) Do you think that this account contradicts Willard’s excerpt?
5) What other observations do you have as you consider the Dallas Willard quote and the account from Gethsemane ?
Small Group #2
2 Kings 20:1-6
1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover."
2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 "Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: 5 "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. 6 I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.' "
(Remember to refer to Willard’s quote!)
1) Do you think this is the “normal” way that God deals with his people?
2) What do you think motivates the Lord to give Hezekiah fifteen more years of life?
3) Does this biblical account cause you to agree or disagree with Willard?
4) What other observations do you have as you consider the Dallas Willard quote and the account from II Kings ?
Small Group #3
Exodus 32:1-14
1 When the people realized that Moses was taking forever in coming down off the mountain, they rallied around Aaron and said, "Do something. Make gods for us who will lead us. That Moses, the man who got us out of Egypt—who knows what's happened to him?"
2-4 So Aaron told them, "Take off the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters and bring them to me." They all did it; they removed the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from their hands and cast it in the form of a calf, shaping it with an engraving tool.
The people responded with enthusiasm: "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from Egypt!"
5 Aaron, taking in the situation, built an altar before the calf.
Aaron then announced, "Tomorrow is a feast day to GOD!"
6 Early the next morning, the people got up and offered Whole-Burnt-Offerings and brought Peace-Offerings. The people sat down to eat and drink and then began to party. It turned into a wild party!
7-8 GOD spoke to Moses, "Go! Get down there! Your people whom you brought up from the land of Egypt have fallen to pieces. In no time at all they've turned away from the way I commanded them: They made a molten calf and worshiped it. They've sacrificed to it and said, 'These are the gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt!'"
9-10 GOD said to Moses, "I look at this people—oh! what a stubborn, hard-headed people! Let me alone now, give my anger free reign to burst into flames and incinerate them. But I'll make a great nation out of you."
11-13 Moses tried to calm his GOD down. He said, "Why, GOD, would you lose your temper with your people? Why, you brought them out of Egypt in a tremendous demonstration of power and strength. Why let the Egyptians say, 'He had it in for them—he brought them out so he could kill them in the mountains, wipe them right off the face of the Earth.' Stop your anger. Think twice about bringing evil against your people! Think of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants to whom you gave your word, telling them 'I will give you many children, as many as the stars in the sky, and I'll give this land to your children as their land forever.'"
14 And GOD did think twice. He decided not to do the evil he had threatened against his people.
(Remember to refer to Willard’s quote!)
1) Do you think God would have destroyed Israel if Moses wouldn’t had prayed for mercy?
2) What do you think motivates the Lord to listen to Moses?
3) Moses prays for Israel that God would not destroy them and God listens. Do you think that Christians can pray that God would not judge evil people and that He will listen? Does it apply to the next life as well? Why or why not?
4) What other observations do you have as you consider the Dallas Willard quote and the account from Exodus?
Large Group Discussion and Sharing (15 Minutes)
Each group will share their findings. From there, there will be then an open discussion about Willard’s quote and whether the students believe Willard’s excerpt.
Closing and prayer (5 minutes)
Allow students to pray. Encouraging them to pray as if what Willard says is true. Encourage them to take time in the weeks to come to think through, imagine what their lives would be like if what Willard says is true. What would change? How would their prayer life change?
Introduction (5 Minutes): Welcome and prayer. Today we are going to look at the phrase, “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”; it is found in the midst of the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6.
Small Group Discussion (5 minutes): I want you to discuss in your small groups what are your initial thoughts about this phrase? What does it mean?
Large Group (5 minutes): I want to read some excerpts from Dallas Willard”s book The Divine Conspiracy (each person will have a copy of the quote).
“The final request [of the Lord’s Prayer] asks our Father not to put us to the test. ‘Don’t bring us into temptation.’ The ‘temptation’ here is not primarily temptation to sin. Trials always tempt us to sin, however. And temptation to sin is always a trial, which we might fail by falling into sin…This request is not just for evasion of pain and of things we don’t like, though it frankly is that. It expresses the understanding that we can’t stand up under very much pressure, and that it is not a good thing for us to suffer. It is a vote of ‘no confidence’ in our own abilities…God expects us to pray that we will escape trials, and we should do it. The bad things that happen to us are always challenges to our faith, and we may not be able to stand under them. They are dangerous.” (The Divine Conspiracy, pg 265)
Small Groups (25 Minutes):
Each small group will be given a scripture reference; they are to use the Dallas Willard quote as a tool to for interpretation. Each group will have specific questions to answer. They will, after their discussion, will come back and report.
Small Group #1
Matthew 26:36-46
36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
42He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
(Remember to refer to Willard’s quote!)
1) What does this story say about Jesus?
2) God allows Jesus to continuing suffering, is this the normal way that God acts with humans? Explain your answer.
3) Why do you think the Father does not answer his son’s prayer?
4) Do you think that this account contradicts Willard’s excerpt?
5) What other observations do you have as you consider the Dallas Willard quote and the account from Gethsemane ?
Small Group #2
2 Kings 20:1-6
1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover."
2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 "Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: 5 "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. 6 I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.' "
(Remember to refer to Willard’s quote!)
1) Do you think this is the “normal” way that God deals with his people?
2) What do you think motivates the Lord to give Hezekiah fifteen more years of life?
3) Does this biblical account cause you to agree or disagree with Willard?
4) What other observations do you have as you consider the Dallas Willard quote and the account from II Kings ?
Small Group #3
Exodus 32:1-14
1 When the people realized that Moses was taking forever in coming down off the mountain, they rallied around Aaron and said, "Do something. Make gods for us who will lead us. That Moses, the man who got us out of Egypt—who knows what's happened to him?"
2-4 So Aaron told them, "Take off the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters and bring them to me." They all did it; they removed the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from their hands and cast it in the form of a calf, shaping it with an engraving tool.
The people responded with enthusiasm: "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from Egypt!"
5 Aaron, taking in the situation, built an altar before the calf.
Aaron then announced, "Tomorrow is a feast day to GOD!"
6 Early the next morning, the people got up and offered Whole-Burnt-Offerings and brought Peace-Offerings. The people sat down to eat and drink and then began to party. It turned into a wild party!
7-8 GOD spoke to Moses, "Go! Get down there! Your people whom you brought up from the land of Egypt have fallen to pieces. In no time at all they've turned away from the way I commanded them: They made a molten calf and worshiped it. They've sacrificed to it and said, 'These are the gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt!'"
9-10 GOD said to Moses, "I look at this people—oh! what a stubborn, hard-headed people! Let me alone now, give my anger free reign to burst into flames and incinerate them. But I'll make a great nation out of you."
11-13 Moses tried to calm his GOD down. He said, "Why, GOD, would you lose your temper with your people? Why, you brought them out of Egypt in a tremendous demonstration of power and strength. Why let the Egyptians say, 'He had it in for them—he brought them out so he could kill them in the mountains, wipe them right off the face of the Earth.' Stop your anger. Think twice about bringing evil against your people! Think of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants to whom you gave your word, telling them 'I will give you many children, as many as the stars in the sky, and I'll give this land to your children as their land forever.'"
14 And GOD did think twice. He decided not to do the evil he had threatened against his people.
(Remember to refer to Willard’s quote!)
1) Do you think God would have destroyed Israel if Moses wouldn’t had prayed for mercy?
2) What do you think motivates the Lord to listen to Moses?
3) Moses prays for Israel that God would not destroy them and God listens. Do you think that Christians can pray that God would not judge evil people and that He will listen? Does it apply to the next life as well? Why or why not?
4) What other observations do you have as you consider the Dallas Willard quote and the account from Exodus?
Large Group Discussion and Sharing (15 Minutes)
Each group will share their findings. From there, there will be then an open discussion about Willard’s quote and whether the students believe Willard’s excerpt.
Closing and prayer (5 minutes)
Allow students to pray. Encouraging them to pray as if what Willard says is true. Encourage them to take time in the weeks to come to think through, imagine what their lives would be like if what Willard says is true. What would change? How would their prayer life change?
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Content with second place
Luke 14:7-11
7When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
In Colossians 3 there are at least two references to being content with obscurity and developing character that is content with second place. In Luke this morning I find the same message being given by Jesus. I pray that on this day I would have the grace to enter into obscurity.
Yesterday, while running, I practiced silence and prayer. It was a grace filled time. What ways can you practice the disciplines?
7When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
In Colossians 3 there are at least two references to being content with obscurity and developing character that is content with second place. In Luke this morning I find the same message being given by Jesus. I pray that on this day I would have the grace to enter into obscurity.
Yesterday, while running, I practiced silence and prayer. It was a grace filled time. What ways can you practice the disciplines?
Monday, January 5, 2009
Monday Morning
This morning I did a few things to get me on track with the disciplines.
1)--I signed up for Daily Med (Click here to sign up).
2) I read the Luke 13 which is the reading this morning from the Bible reading schedule. This stuck out to me:
"6Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'
8" 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. 9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' "
This morning as I connect with the Lord, I have a simple prayer: "Lord, empower me to bear fruit. I want to be pleasing to you and be the person you want me to be."
I pray for all of us that the Spirit will move in our lives.
Be blessed.
1)--I signed up for Daily Med (Click here to sign up).
2) I read the Luke 13 which is the reading this morning from the Bible reading schedule. This stuck out to me:
"6Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'
8" 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. 9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' "
This morning as I connect with the Lord, I have a simple prayer: "Lord, empower me to bear fruit. I want to be pleasing to you and be the person you want me to be."
I pray for all of us that the Spirit will move in our lives.
Be blessed.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
The beginning
This weekend I preached on going deeper through the spiritual disciplines. These next few weeks, I will be blogging about my experiences with the disciplines. My hope is that in sharing what I am learning, you will be encouraged and I will be held accountable :).
Feel free to share what works for you and if you have any questions, you can e-mail me at rcitlau@faithchurchonline.org .
Talk to you tomorrow.
Feel free to share what works for you and if you have any questions, you can e-mail me at rcitlau@faithchurchonline.org .
Talk to you tomorrow.
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