Youth

So, yes it has been a few days!! We are still waiting to get started on week #`3 in our study- We have been doing other things in Awana , so I will wait to post questions related to that. I do want to ask you to do something for Friday when we meet. Please do this everyday and lets talk about it on Next Friday. I will continue to post daily or every other day, but anyway here goes....
.....I Chronicles 4:9-10


Read This verse daily or more than once, then right some thought down- POST the thoughts and or write them on paper.Lets discuss what they mean and how praying this prayer might be a good thing-- OR NOT !!!
Pastor Greg

( Youth )

Read 1 John 4:16

Read it a 2nd time, What does it say about love?

Read it a third time, what does it say about trust?

Read it one last time, What does it say about how you live your life?

Read Psalm 139:1-6

How do you feel knowing God knows you this well ?

What part of you life do you hide from God that you could share with Him right now? ( This question, you can keep between you and God)

I would like to discuss this on Wednesday!! We will have our own fun, game time on Wednesday, please come prepared to discuss these ?' s And remember-

" God is good, All the time!"

(Youth)

I know this is late, Sorry!! I will explain later-

Anyway here goes, last week we talked about obstacles to getting or becoming close to God.

Here they are:

Hurry ( We are in such a rush)
Fury ( We are controlled by frustration and or anger )
Worry ( We worry about Everything)
Hearing ( We do nottake the time to listen)
Flirting ( We are simply distracted by things in life)
Sin ( We sin )n

Which one applies to you? The assignment is to think about it. Many of you have shared in one way or another. I just want you to think about it yourself. Talk to God. Even if you say, " I am far, and I do not care" TALK TO GOD"

(Youth) Psalm 46

Read Psalm 46 . There was a lot of chaos going on when this Psalm was written. Your life may not have the same kind of chaos-- tumbling into the sea and so on- but it probably does seem a little hectic from time to time.

Look again an verse 10 - The orders seem to be " Be still"

What does it look like for you to be still? Take a few minutes and try it . No music, no moving, no talking. Think of how God is your refuge and strength. It's hard to not let your mind wander, so say the verse again and again in your head. Try to listen to God. Write down and blog any comments that come to mind.


When you are done Read Psalm 46 once more, using it at the begininning of your prayer, and then specifically pray for God to help you overcome the factors that distract you from Him the most. ( Parents , this could be done by you as well)

Pastor Greg - We can discuss this on Wednesday .

Youth

I would like you to describe your relationship wih God right now!

Are you like a critic. a passive observer watching God from a distance?

Or a fan , cheering Him on but not getting personal?

Are you an acquantance, taking to God about shallow things?

Or are you a distant relative he sees only at Easter?

Are you a friend who visits once a week- or a best friend?

What is keeping you from moving closer?

Just answer these questions with one sentence or less!


Read 1 John 1:1-4, Please answer the ? " What does this passage say about Knowing God?

Check post tomorrow !! A prize awaits any person who responds twice!!!!

Mountain Tops and Flatlands:
It is so easy to prize the peaceful times of private, direct communion with God. The disciples of Jesus had such an experience on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:27-36). So satisfied with the feeling was Peter that he suggested building three tabernacles and staying on the mountain top – while the routine of life went on below. Peter either had not fully learned or temporarily forgot that life is not lived on spiritual mountain tops, but on the day-by-day flat lands below. On the other hand, daily routine is lived poorly by those who have spent little time with God on the mountain top. So, here’s the strategy for living on the flat lands – divert daily, withdraw weekly to the mountain top and meet with God. When that becomes routine, the flat lands begin to look more heavenly.
by Dr Crawford at Swbts

(Youth)

Read Luke 19:1-9

Questions,

1. " What were Zacchaeus' priorities and goals as a tax collector before he encountered Jesus?



2. What kinds of blessings did Jesus bring instead?


3. What kinds of blessings do you assume you wil get out of life ?


4. DREAM BIG-- what more might God want to give you?

If you have a chance 2-3 times this week before Awana look these (and other daily ?'s) over and answer. This will make our conversations better and help us grow close to God.

servantevangelism.com

Hey, if you have a chance, click on the link servantevangelism.com There is a article written called , " A dispatch in South Africa" What a great testimony to the power of a seed planted by giving something free. God really works when we seek to show His love.
Pastor Greg

Matthew 6

We will be taking a look at Matthew 6 this Sunday. If you have a chance, take a look . We will be answering the ? " What does Jesus say about Prayer" So Read, meditate, and ask God to improve your prayer life. What a blessing it is that we GET to spend time in the presence of God, and this is because He wants us there.

Pastor Greg

Holy Spirit

Oswald said today that, " The Holy Spirit can not be a guest in a house" What a profound statement. This was said in the context of Him invading our whole being. He changes us from the inside out and does so completely. Have you and ( I ) yielded to Him in such a way that we are completely transformed to what He wants? This is not a one time question, but a process we are involved in.

We should pray that we welcome the work of God's spirit in our lives daily, hourly ect.....

In His Presence enough?

I was praying this morning. As usual , I was going through this list of requests, all good ones i'll admit. It occurred to be though, Is His presence enough? God tells us to make our requests, but I just wondered, for me, am I content to know His presence. I immediately recalled a verse, however I was not sure what that verse was, ( Does this ever happen to you?) So I combed the scriptures and in Jude I found a verse that really seemed to fit.

Jude 24-25, " Now to Him that is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen"

Wow! we get to stand in His presence. My mind finds it difficult to wrap itself around that truth, but just the knowledge that in His presence I am safe and secure, makes me want to stop and always make sure that I never leave His Hands.

A Formula for Prayer

Jesus is Here (Matthew 18:19-20 )

Help me, Lord ( James 5:13-16)

Thank you , Lord ( Philippians 4:4-7)

Help my brother ( Mark 11:22-25)

This is one of many suggestions for guiding our prayer life. There really is no right way, this is just a suggestion. The key, I think is to place yourself( mindset) in the presence of God. Think of Christ as standing at your side, sharing your experience.

These ideas came from a book on prayer that I have been reading by Philip Yancey
"Prayer: Does it Make Any Difference"

This weekend, we will be asking the ? Who lives in you? What a great question for us to ponder. As I was studying this week for sermon, I noticed the calmness and confidence Micah has. In Chapter 7:7 He says, " But for me, I'm not giving up. I'm sticking around to see what God will do . I'm waiting for God to make things right. I'm counting on God to listen to me." Do we have that confidence? When everyone else around us fails and even, we have failed ourselves, God is there. Micah, walked so closely with God that he knew sticking around long enough, would be opportunity to see God at work. God works in His own timing, (don't we know that) Let's practice " sticking around" and " waiting" God will show up and as always will make things right.
Pastor Greg

Personal Outreach idea

Try this !! Pray , pray , pray and then as you are going through a drive-thru like Taco Bell , after you pay for your meal, pay for the meal of the car behind you!! hand the drive- thru person a "connection card" This card would say something that shows that God loves them, but that we as a body we love them as well. The drive-thru person would give the card to the person in the car. This could be done periodically. Just start praying and see what amazing things God can do through a people that are sold out on serving Him.
I am reading a new book on Outreach that is full of these ideas, let me know if you would like to read when I am done.
Pastor Greg

Blessed

I heard on a radioshow this week something very interesting. Someone said that if an individual makes $9000.00 a year in the United States,he is considered to be at poverty level. This still, they said places one in the top 12% of the richest people in the world. WOW!! We truly are blessed. As I thought about this it just reminded me of the charge by Paul to be always thankful. Also It made me wonder if I am doing enough to help the impoverished. What do you guys think?

Well, It has been a while since I have visited this site. First, I got busy, then computer issues and those are actually not fully resolved. You know they say that ittaked 6 weeks to develop a habit. As I was thinking about that it occured to me that it takes about a day to develop a bad one. I hope to keep this updated mor regularly. If anyone has any thoughts, prayer requests, or simply a question for me, feel free to do it on this site or e-mail me.
Pastor Greg

Thought on Oswald

"Beware of refusing to go to the funeral of your own independence. "
This is a quote that I read in the Oswald Chambers reading today. I thought it interesting as of course He makes this statement in reference to the Words of Jesus regarding denying oneself. Often times we like to blame our problems on the world or the devil, however often times, if not most times our issues and problems stem from our lack of dependence on God and struggle to give up our own independence. What a wonderful reality it is to know that once we submit to Jesus a heavy burden on us is lifted because He tells us that His yoke is light.

Thought on Prayer

Hey guys, what do you think about this statement?

"Prayer is the beginning and the end of that which will last"

Gary Sjogren

"Apart from Me"

As I was reading the Bible this a.m., It occured to me, When Jesus says, " Apart from Me you can do nothing" He was talking about anything and everything. He wants to be apart of every area of our lives. We need to seek Him at every turn and in every little area of our life. Today as You seek to live for Him, ask Him to show you areas where you have tried to live," apart". Once every area of our lives include Jesus, we will then and only then be ready to do all God has for us.

"Joy to the World" - Today's Christian

"Joy to the World" - Today's Christian