church was great - lets not talk about it

I just came across a great article - at least for me. As soon as church is over, I head out the door and back to my house, hoping no one will speak to me. How wrong is that?!?

Here's the link to the article:

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/02/18/church-was-great-lets-not-talk-about-it/

Here's the opening statement of the article:

"We've just heard the Word read and proclaimed, sung the praises of our great God, and petitioned him for mercy in our time of need. And then we spend our time afterward talking about last night's movie, the game, the hobby, the state of the nation, or whatever. Anything but the great truths of the gospel we've just heard and by which we're saved. Why do we do this?"

February 19, 2013

We began with a prayer from Carol, and then we began our bible study. We continued Spiritual Gifts by opening our Directions study guide to page 154.

1 Corinthians 12:17 began our lesson. 

If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

The study guide asked an excellent question: Did the various parts of your body decide what they wanted to be, or did God make them and place them according to his design?

We closed with a prayer from Anthony after prayer requests were made by one person, for her friend Joe, her uncle, and for herself as she is recovering from a car accident and has to travel again. A prayer request from another person for his sister whose husband has left the marriage and his family. Please remember these people, and all the other prayer requests, as you go to our God in prayer.

Happy Valentines Day!

His love never quits

~from Ann Voskamp Facebook post on 2/11/13

Over the weekend I came across this post: Ideas for 40 Days of Fasting: 40 Day Journey

http://www.womensbiblecafe.com/2013/02/ideas-for-40-days-of-fasting/

The article starts like this,

"Throughout biblical history we see 40 days of testing, waiting and drawing closer to God. Ash Wednesday and Lent typically mark a spiritual quest for Christians, though it’s often recognized as a Catholic tradition. It’s a time of prayer, service, sacrifice and self-examination.  Look beyond the face of religion and into the heart …and see if God is calling you for the next 40 days. Does He want your attention and your heart focused on Him?"

encourage

Prayer for Tending

Lord of love,

Forgive us Lord, for often choosing isolation and refusing to be a blessing for each other.

Open our minds to how we can support the ministries and work of people who move in different circles than we do.

Help us to see how they are also being your servants in ways that we cannot (or will not).

In the name of Jesus, who brought us abundant life,

Amen

 

~Taken from DisciplesNet Church's status on Facebook on January 18, 2013

secret agent Christian

In our current study we are learning the basics so that we are able to share whenever we are asked to explain our faith.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. ~ 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

This morning I stumbled across Chip Ingram's, 'Share the Love' series. Here's how they describe the series:

You should.... you ought to... you know the Bible tells you to do it. But the thought of actually sharing your faith with another person gives you sweaty palms and heart palpitations. "I'm just not gifted in evangelism," you decide. "It's not for me." But it is! In Share the Love, learn how even you can move from being a "secret agent" Christian to a "public" witness as you develop the heart, skills, and perspective to naturally share Christ, as a part of your lifestyle and relationships.

http://livingontheedge.org/broadcasts/player?bid=703dd398-dfd0-4dc8-9f10-2fd0c1ff659c

or
http://livingontheedge.org/broadcasts

I'm listening to Part 4 of the series and here are some of the notes.

Chip breaks the story down into four acts in the story of God

How it all began

Creation:

God made us for Himself – A perfect relationship in a perfect world,

giving, and receiving perfect love.

How it all went wrong

The Fall:

God allowed us to choose or reject His love – Our choice to reject God’s love

ushered in sin, death, and selfishness to every
relationship, separating

How God's love rescued us

Redemption:

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his
friends.

John 15:13 (NIV)

God, the Son, took on human flesh, lived a perfect life to reveal God’s

heart, then offered His life as a sacrifice and payment for the sins of all
people of all time; that whoever would choose to receive new life may
have it.
How it all will end

Restoration:

Jesus will return as promised to make all things right in heaven and on
earth forever.

Every moral being will be justly judged (repaid) for their thoughts,

choices, and actions. Sin, death, and Satan will be vanquished forever,
and God will re-establish perfect relationships in a perfect world, giving
and receiving perfect love.