Battle

Isaiah 54: 17 No weapon that is formed against you will prosper.

“This is my prayer in the battle

When triumph is still on its way

I am a conqueror and coheir with Christ

So firm on His promise I will stand

and I will bring praise

I will bring praise

No weapon formed against me shall remain

I will rejoice

I will declare

God is my victory and He is here”

Spending time praying tonight.  What can I be praying for you about?

Nothing Missing, Nothing Broken

He calls us to be salty.

To let the world see the difference.

He calls us to repentance.

To stand on the promise that we are chosen by God, holy and dearly loved.

He calls us to love and walk as a new creation in Christ.

To experience the Hands of the Healer.

He says “Follow Me.” Immediately.

To show us that he doesn’t run away from our needs, even needs wrongly met, because they reveal something about us that He wants to transform, to redeem, to deepen our roots through relationship with Him.

He looks at the Samaritan woman with love and maybe we should say: “Look at what potential she has for God.  See how hard she’s trying to find the right thing in all the wrong places.”

To ask us if we looking at messy, real lives and saying “that’s wrong” or if we are penetrating the walls and masks to seek why they are in such trouble in order to love them where they are?

He reminds us that our message is not that we have it all together.  Our message is that we know the one who does!

To let us rest in shalom שָׁלוֹם: nothing missing. nothing broken. life as it was meant to be.

Sunday Scripture

“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:3-5

Pray!

Meet Gugu

Meet Nomfundo

I hold these two girls in my heart and in my arms.  They make my heart happy and I love getting to see them on Fridays at Hope House.  But, there’s a slight problem…they don’t like each other.  They’re in that lovely later elementary school girl age where they fight and seek attention.  Not to mention that Nomfundo recently came to Hope House a few weeks ago so she is still adjusting to the new environment.  My prayer is that the love of Christ would completely overwhelm them and transform their lives, which in turn dramatically changes their relationship.

Anything I can be praying for you about on this Friday night?

My New Love

What started to be a “want to hang out” turned into a full blown crush, which turned into spending quite a bit of time together.  Yes, I’m totally still in the honeymoon stage, but my fingers are numb and my heart is happy.  Granted, I really only know a few chords and am not really even sure how to “strum” properly, but that’s okay.

I find myself in a stage where I’m learning and re-learning so many things that this fits right into the mix. I must go through the pain, develop those callouses and take time in order to learn the chords, which will turn into a song.  The song may not sound pretty at first, but with some hard work, pressing into those strings, and commitment, I know that I can be more than a conqueror and make something beautiful from the pain.

The same is true for the place I find myself in life.  I find myself at a crossroads where I can either press in and dig deep with God or I can be complacent while letting root issues stick around.  To be honest, I’m sick and tired and absolutely hate those roots in my life and the destruction and pain they have caused.  I need and want to go through the pain with Jesus at my side to dig out any and everything that is destructive so that I can bear good fruit and so prove to be His disciple.  In this, I need support, I need prayer, I need people because Christ created us as a body with Him as the head.  Thus, I need Him and I need the rest of the body to help me in this.  I recognize this and ask if you would join me in this journey in whatever way.  A journey where I am committed to this path toward forgiveness, healing, restoration, and new life because I know that in the long run it will all be worth it.

Leading Yourself

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Is my calling sure?
2. Is my vision clear?
3. Is my passion burning hot?
4. Is my character fully submitted to Christ?
5. Is my pride subdued or is my ego messing with it?
6. Are my fears at bay? Or do I have anxiety?
7. Is my psychological baggage affecting the way I make decisions?
8. Are my ears open to the voice of God?
9. Is my pace sustainable?
10. Is my heart for God increasing or decreasing?

ht: Bill Hybels

Toilet Paper Fun

At Launch Pad this last week, we went through a lesson about telling our story of coming to Christ.  The kids were able to write their story out in the book and we went through the questions together. We also asked some students to stay after to write what LaunchPad means to them.  I loved reading their comments about how they are so glad they are able to come and learn.  The kids also played a fun game this week where one student rolled toilet paper around the rest and then they had to try to walk across the room without the paper breaking.  The students loved the game!  I love teaching and am excited to go back next week!

Work in Progress through Philippians

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

“And I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ…” Philippians 1:9-10

“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13

“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.  Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14

Are You Caught?

“When you look in the mirror, you see who you used to be rather than who you are.”

“Teach me to see me as who I am in Christ because in Christ you are completely forgiven.”

“You are doing things for him because you are afraid that if you don’t he will leave.”

“If there is going to be no commitment, you are better than being treated like you’re something from Rent-A-Center. You are valuable in the sight of God.”

“The easiest thing for her to do would be to jump right back into the relationship when things get tough.”

“He wants to you live the life that he created you to live.”

“Jesus’ passion can overcome your problem.”

“I’m obsessed with who you could be if you would just give your life to me.” -Jesus

-Random quotes from Perry Noble’s sermon “Caught”

Passion

What is the greatest passion in your life? What drives you? What motivates you? What is your credo?

Go read Philippians 1:18b-26

Okay, so some of you did and some of you didn’t read the verse.  For those of you who didn’t, the key verse is “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  Some would say that’s Paul’s credo.  That’s Paul take on life.  Everything that he lives and breathes is Christ.  He wants to “magnify Jesus in every situation” he encounters.  Dying means perfect and complete fellowship with Christ for Paul.  While, living means that he can be used by God in the lives of others.  He can continue to magnify Christ and help others magnify Christ.  Yet EITHER way Christ is with him.  Whether Paul lives or dies, Christ is with him.  While he is living, the prayers of others and the work of the Holy Spirit help lead him to boldness for the Gospel and for magnifying Christ.  Furthermore, when the primary passion is to magnify Jesus in every situation our prayers change from “Get me out of this!” to “Get me out of this, but help me glorify you in this and cherish you as gain no matter what happens.”  How do You want to use my now?  If magnifying Jesus become my overarching theme how will I use my other passions to encompass that credo?

 So, the real question is what is your passion? What drives you? Is it Jesus? Or is it something else?

 

–Thoughts based off of the sermon series “To&ether for the Gospel: A Study in Philippians.”  Sermon from November 16th, 2008 “What’s your Credo?” by Pastor Andy.  Check out Antioch Community Church for more information or podcasts.  The sermon from today should be posted on the blog later this week.