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2008-02-25 - Power of Gratitude - Solitary Places
When gratitude cause us to rise early to spend time with God - seeing one of the greatest fruits
No one says that QT must happen in the morning - it always goes better than the days when trying to work out another time during the day

I learned to pray when I sensed that I would come apart at the seams emotionally unless I didn't

Three things helped with prayer life:
  • Solitary place - no bothered for a curtain amount of time
  • Can walk and pray
  • Can pray out loud
writing can help - proven by therapists -  helps with negative thoughts

There is  no gratitude without prayer

2008-02-27 - Power of Gratitude - Free at Last

MLK - as bad as slavery was - there a slavery that last for eternity

2 Corinthians 5:21 - Jesus might become sin for us

As existence of righteousness does not ensure we receive it

Satan tries everything to help us miss this opportunity

Jews after saw their failures in the past - created many regulations so they would not sin

  • Not the content of their character
  • Basis of conformity to rules
  • Majored in the minors and minored in the majors

Religion that is performance based is doomed

  • what must we do to please God
  • Condemn others outwardly
  • Condemn ourselves inwardly
  • Everything becomes a matter of right and wrong
  • Hearts focused if we have done enough and have done it right
1 Corinthians 15:10 - I worked harder than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me
Romans 7-8 - Focus is not on themselves but on him who died for them; Because they are saved
James 1:23-25 - Law points out their sin clearly / making them feel more indebted to God

Motivation to last a lifetime - Our love responding to his grace

Other motivations:
  • Fear - only for a while
  • Christian fellowship - until other's disappointments and failures
  • Ambition - until our disappointments and failures
NOT: Measure up and I will accept you
YES: I'll accept you, now let's walk together in my strength

2008-02-28 - Power of Gratitude - Thank God Im a Country Boy
What ever background we have, we can not change it

Cultural heritage - Jesus from Galilee and Nazareth
Job - Jesus was a carpenter son's
Appearance - Jesus "nothing in his appearance that we should desire him" (Isaiah 53:2)
Speech - Disciples "are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?" ( Acts 2:7 )

Why?
"God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise" (1 Corinthians 26-29)

Jesus understands and sympathizes - No one knows more about temptation than he.

Let he happy for how God made us and use it for his glory

2008-02-29 - Power of Gratitude - Bon Appetit
Satan works to both deceive us and accuse us - People tend to have a deceived or an accused conscience

Too many of us seem to think that God turns away from us when we are doing bad and turns back when we repent
Fathers are much more engaged when their kids are not doing well

God ran to the Lost Son - Luke 15
Gave his only Son when we were not doing well - John 3:16-17
Christ died for the ungodly - Romans 5:6-11

At the point the mind changes - our conscience should be cleared
Sin is serious - that is what the cross is all about
Feel the burden of sin long enough to be convicted and move to repentence

2008-03-01 - Power of Gratitude - Don't waste your sin
Use the past to encourage others
Paul did - chief of sinners - 1 Timothy 1:15-16

Joseph did:
  • Told his brothers to not be distressed or angry with themselves for selling him to slavery
  • Purpose was to save the lives of his family - Genesis 45:5
  • He saved himself a lifetime of bitterness and self-pity
Until and unless we see God's presence in our challenges, we are going to sin
Rejection leads to rebellion, which in turn led to failure

We must become thankful rather than resentful or hurt - give the benefit of the doubt
Key to a life of acceptance is develop a deep gratitude for what God has done through our challenges
  • We must come to peace with the past
  • Develop his perspective on the matters at hand
  • Be gracious is your evaluation of others' roles
  • Forgive yourself and others
  • Never waste the impact that your past can have on others
  • Be thankful


2008-03-06 - Power of Gratitude - Here I Raise My Ebenezer
Miraculous storm, allowing the Israelites to rout the Philistines (erecting the monument - Ebenezer) - 1 Samuel 4:1
Crossing the Jordan and God had them setup a memorial of twelve stones - Joshua 4:21-22

We all need those landmarks etched in our memories to remind us of what God has done in our lives
Disciples need reminders:
  • Albums of pictures - when God poured out his love
  • Printed memorabilia
  • Special events - birthdays, weddings, graduations, baptisms
Good idea to keep a calendar of past events - for more details thanksgiving to God

Job's understood life was short:
  • My days are swifter that a weaver's shuttle - Job 7:6
  • My days are swifter than a runner - Job 9:25
  • Man born of woman is of few days - Job 14:1
Life is too short to not make memories and then to regularly reflect on them with thankful hearts

2008-03-07 - Power of Gratitude - Day-Tight Compartments
Sentence of death is on us and everyone we know

Matthew 6:34 - Focus on today, live in day-tight compartments, rather than worrying about tomorrow

The most important factor in remaining effective and thankful as we get older is to stay busy doing things that matter to God

Women of noble character was busy from dawn to dusk - Proverbs 31
Being happy with our lot in life and our work - Ecclesiastes 5:19-20

Worried about aging and death - No, because I would be ungrateful for all the blessing God has given me
Every good and perfect gift is from above (people in our lives) - James 1:17

What percentage of your thoughts focus of past regrets and future worries?

2008-03-08 - Power of Gratitude - Is This All There Is?
Most of the physical pursuits of life (Ecclesiastes) are substitutes for what we really need - a relationship with God

"Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ" - Philippians 3:7-11

The answer - to be totally immersed in my relationship with God through Christ
To know God in such a way and at such a level that all else pales into comparision
When this level is reached, nothing else will matter:
  • Not position
  • Not recognition
  • Not performance
  • Not respect
Fear of death will lose its hold

"For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain" - Philippians 1:21

Thankful books

Do it just before going to bed every night
God is too good for us not express gratitude
Ideas: come up with 7 areas of gratitude and incorporate one area into your prayers each day
  • Physical blessings
  • Family blessings
  • Spiritual blessings


2008-03-10 - Be Still My Soul - Quiet Time

Jesus deeply valued his time alone with God

Jesus sought out quiet time
"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest" - Mark 6:31b
"Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" - Luke 5:16
Occasional devotions are OK but should never replace our private time with God

Jesus found a quite place
"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father" - Matthew 6:6
If you have no quite place - your relationship will be shallow and limited

Jesus urged alertness
Jesus pleaded with them to be awake and alert in prayer - Mark 14:37-42
Be "clear minded and self-controller" so that we can pray - 1 Peter 4:7

How long? until a sense of peace and closeness with God

How much time in prayer and study? mix it up; our relationship should not become stale

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you" - John 15:4-8



2008-03-12 - Be Still My Soul - Time Outdoors

Do you realize that nearly all of the people we read about in the Bible spent most of their time outside?

  • Star-studded evening would tell how many descendants Abraham would have - Genesis 15:5
  • Looking at God's creation - humbled Job's pride - Job 38:4-7

FInd park, trails, and open spaces.
Open your eyes, listen, breath the realivily clear air

When is the last time you:

  • Took in a sunrise or sunset
  • Watched the changing cloud formations
  • Listen to the songs of the birds
  • Strolled through the leaves of fall
  • Listen to the snow fall as they gently fell to earth
  • Took a good look at the flowers of spring
  • Stopped to watch the a powerful thunderstorm
  • Stood in awe of the sparkling  stars

Psalms 19:1-4; Psalms 65:8-13

Time outside with God is just what many of us need and nothing else will suffice



2008-03-13 - Be Still My Soul - Times of Fasting

What is fasting? - voluntary abstinence from food in order to draw near to God

Fasting - frequently practiced by those who have walked closely with God:

  • Moses - fasted for 40 days as he received the law (Exodus 34:28)
  • David - fasted for the life of his newborn (2 Samuel 12:15-22)
  • King Jehoshaphat - declared a national fast under a miltary emerency (2 Chronicles 20)
  • Esther - called for God's people to fast during a extermination attempt (Esther 4)
  • Daniel - fasted to confess his and God's people sin (Daniel 9)
  • Nehemaih - fasted for the condition of Jerusalem to improve (Nehemiah 1)
  • Jesus - fasted for 40 days at the beginning of his ministry (Matthew 4:2)
  • Antioch church leaders - fasted for to bless their ministry efforts (Acts 13:1-3)
  • Paul and Barnabas - dedicating newly appointed elders (Acts 14:23-24)

 Jesus warned about the mere appearance of fasting - Matthew 6:16-18

Advice

  • Decide how long before hand
  • Begin  with shorter fasts
  • Be care with those taking medication or those with a background of anorexia or bulimia
  • Do not indulge in a large meal immediately after a fast

A "world fast" is an idea to remove yourself from movies, sports, television, newpaper, other outside info

 Reason to fast:

  • Humble ourselves
  • Show our dependance on him
  • To devote time and focus to our spiritual lives
  • To ask for God' guidance
  • To ask for God's help
  • To overcome spiritual lukewarmness
  • To pray for a particular need
  • To express gratitude and thanksgiving
  • Breakthrough in our faith


2008-03-14 - Be Still My Soul - All the Time
To be real, a relationship with God must be all-the-time
If not, you are compartmentalizing your walk with God

"I am with you always" - Matthew 28:20
""Pray continually" - 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Nehemiah prayed, wept,and fasted for days before talking wit King Artaxerxes then he prayed again right before talking to him just before opening his mouth - Nehemiah 2:4b

  • Your relationship with God does not depend how you have a quiet time
  • We should learn to pray short prayers throughout the day
  • If we don't remember God throughout the day, can become legalistic about our quiet times

Both are needed - a quiet time can never replace all-the-time

2008-03-18 - Be Still My Soul - How to Study
God intends for every disciple of His to delight in His Word - Psalms 119:18

Ways to study:
  • Study one book of the Bible - Make a simple outline; sometimes we lose patience in our understanding - keep working at it
  • Study a section of a book - ie Sermon of the Mount; Jesus and the disciples in the upper room
  • Study one chapter of the Bible - Hebrews 11, 1 Corinthians 13, and others
  • Study one verse - This is really deep! compare it, cross reference words, look up meanings
  • Study one topic - understand and master; use topical, chain-reference, and concordance
Take notes and review each day

2008-03-20 - Be Still My Soul - Bible Studies That Changed my Life
Author, Sam Laing, describe different times in his life when quiet times were life changing including:
  • Gospel of John - John 13-17
  • As a young ministry intern, Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus
  • As a mature Christians, David and the Psalms
  • After failure, Isaiah 40-66
  • Entering forties with cynicism and anger, Book of Ecclesiastes
  • All the time, study of Jesus
Never tire of reading about Jesus - his words, poise, love, and balanced character

2008-03-21 - Be Still My Soul - The Pattern (Part 1)
What are we to pray about and in what order?
God has not left such crucial issues to guesswork

Matthew 6:9-13 - Above all other scripture on prayer - understand this one

Things to remember:
  • Pattern, not a formula - not meant to be recited, rebuked by Jesus
  • May seem awkward at first - stick with it
  • Be prepared to spend more time in prayer when you use this prayer - wider range of subjects
  • The structure reveals the genius of God - Begin looking to God; then deal with ourselves; once again focus on God
  • Notice the use of "us" - personal, but not self-centered


2008-03-22 - Be Still My Soul - The Pattern (Part 2)
Our Father.
  • We are longer slave but sons ans daughters
  • We can approach him with confidence because of Jesus
In heaven.
  • With Jesus as the high priest,  we can confidence to enter the into the throne room of God
  • Can gain a heavenly perspective
  • Praise God that his resources there are limitless
Hallowed be your name.
  • Being holy, set apart, above us
  • Prayer is not just asking for something but for honoring Him
Your kingdom come.
  • Kingdom has not come to every nation and place nor every person
  • Pray for God to open doors, speaking boldly, with wisdom
  • Pray for those who server and in leading roles
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
  • God wants us to pray about surrendering to his will
  • Challenges is our life must not be avoided but have a surrendered life
  • Read some command and ask yourself if you are following them
  • Jesus never asked for strength to go to the cross but only that he might surrender
  • Besides pride and rebellion, unbelief keeps us from doing God's will
Give us today our daily bread.
  • Bring specific needs to God
  • Must depend on God daily for our spiritual and physical needs
  • Pray thorough your todo list and details
  • Jesus said we could do nothing apart from God - John 15:5
Forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors.
  • Lack of confession results in a hardened heart
  • We will not mature if do not do this soul searching
  • Be specific; ask others for forgiveness if needed
  • Extend forgiveness; can not be forgiven by God otherwise
And lead us not into temptation.
  • What are your weaknesses? Have you faced them?
  • Draw on God's power before Satan strikes
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
  • Return again to praising and glorifying God
  • All power rests in his hand


2008-03-23 - Be Still My Soul - Pour Out Your Heart
We can to one of a few things in challenging times:

  • Handle it ourselves
  • Turn to God superficially; mentioning thing to God
  • Turn to God - pouring out our hearts

Pour out your hearts - Psalms 62:8
I pour out my complaint before him  - Psalms 142:2

How can we be close to someone if we have not poured out our hearts

God is all-knowing but unless we tell him our feelings we will never draw close
Everyone has feelings; it may be difficult at first

Jesus: offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears - Hebrews 5:7

Suggestions:
  • Get in the habit of telling God how you feel
  • Be in a private place
  • Take a period of time away
  • Allow yourself to cry - frustration, sorrow, or joy


2008-03-24 - Be Still My Soul - Pray the Psalms
What is meant by "praying through the Psalms"?

Using the Psalms as a guide to expressing your own heart to God

Psalms 25 - wide-ranging; allowing us to confess sin; ask for wisdom
Psalms 86 - we humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness and worship God
Psalms 103 - prayer of praise

Pour out our hearts when weak or discouraged - 45, 46, 57, 62, 63, 141, 118

Teach us how to confess our sins in a heartfelt way - 32, 38, 51

2008-03-25 - Be Still My Soul - Personal
Moses enjoyed a relationship with God that few have ever known
He was face to face - It was because Moses wanted that way

When Moses was heading to the promised land God said he would not go with him - Exodus 33:2
Moses was appalled, recoils in horror
It was not enough to be forgiven
It was not enough to be successful

Moses wanted to know more of God - Now show me your glory (Exodus 33:18)

How would I react? Would I be fine with the promised land without God?
We can sing, strive to be committed, give money, work hard to share our faith, and even pray
Must be more focused on closeness to God more than on the success of our ministry

2 Corinthians 3 - in Jesus we can have a greater relationship with God than what Moses had the opportunity to have

2008-03-27 - Be Still My Soul - Persistence

We "should always pray and not give up" - Luke 18:1

Disciples who are not close to God are simply not being perisistent

Examples of persistent prayers:

  • Elisha - prayerd 7x before the promised rainfall came down  -1 Kings 18:42-45
  • Jesus - returned three time to the garden of Gethsemane to surrender to God's will - Matthew 26:36-FF
  • Paul - prayed three times before given an answer he did not want - 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
  • Early church - prayed all night for Peter's deliverance - Acts 12:1-17


2008-03-29 - Be Still My Soul - Praise
Thanksgiving is praise made practical
  • We always thank God - Colossians 1:3
  • Overflowing with thankfulness - Colossians 2:6-7
  • And be thankful - Colossians 3:15
  • Being watchful and thankful - Colossians 4:2
What should we be grateful for?
  • Answered prayer
  • Blessings of family and friends
  • Health
  • Material blessings
  • Church
Our appreciation grows, our anxiety decreases, and our joy abounds
Never known a person who habitually expressive of gratitude to be afflicted with continual discouragement and depression
Good idea to start and keep a gratitude list

2008-03-30 - Be Still My Soul - Psalms You Sing
Nothing is quite as effective as music in improving our moods and softening our hearts
  • I will sing and make music - Psalms 57:7
  • I will sing and make music to the Lord - Psalms 27:6
  • Make music to your name - Psalms 92:1
  • Extol him with music and song - Psalms 95:2
  • I will sing and make music with all my soul - Psalms 108:1
  • The Lord is my strength and my song - Psalms 118:14
Use of music in our personal devotions is of utmost importance and is possessed of immense power
Frees us from a mere intellectual approach
Humbles us, especially those of us who are vocally challenged
Get a songbook and start singing during your quiet times

If your relationship with God seems dry and lifeless, music may be the missing element

2008-03-31 - Falling in Love with God - Intro

Loving God is a journey

Father draws us to himself - John 6:44

Father does not change - James 1:17
Hard to understand God when we are so inconsistent

It is OK for a journey to have highs and lows

Why love God?
Why not just obey him?
Why not just "gut out" our journey with God? Because we are commanded to

What touches you most about God?

  • He never quits
  • Always a refuge
  • Always will take you back
  • He will make sure you know where you are
  • Champion of the truth and the underdog
  • Tender with the weak and brokenhearted
  • Hammer the arrogant and pround
  • Never makes a mistake

Despite all the good qualities of God - our relationship with God still takes work



2008-04-01 - Falling in Love with God - How Bad It Can Get

A mission of Satan is undermine my relationship with our Father

Must ask all the time: How are God and I doing?

Typical doing questions:

  • Am I productive?
  • Have a recently had a victory?
  • How do people around me feel about me?
  • How long has it been since I committed a particular sin?

Relationship questions:

  • Do they feel loved?
  • Are we connected?
  • Have I been sensitive?
  • Am I listening?
  • Will this activity help our relationship?

 When we drift

1. Combative - Psalms 55:20-21
2. Uncaring / Apathy (Harding of our hearts) - Psalms 36:1-4; Esphesians

Presedes sin / sensual gratification

  • "I deserve this"
  • "I am tired"
  • "I am missing out"
  • "I know what I need"

3. Hopeless - Job 3:11-13

Hopelessness is godlessness
If deeply in love with God, whispering to me promise after promise
If walking with him closely, he is meeting my needs for strength and faith



2008-04-02 - Falling in Love with God - Bitterness

An emotional response (along with fear) that succeed at undermining our love for God

A result of an uncard-for emotional wound

Matthew 18:15-17 - can resolve most issues
Sometimes we are just called on to forgive
Not forgiving is like allowing a physical cut become infected

Examples

  • Esau wept bitteryly when he failed to receive the blessing - Genesis 27:34
  • Israelites incrediblity harsh and treatment from the Eyptians - Exodus 1:14
  • Naomi changed her name to Mara, meaning "bitterness" (losted husband and sons) - Ruth 1:21
  • Hannah wept "in bitterness of soul" because of her infertility - 1 Samuel 1:10
  • David's men because of the loss of their children - 1 Samuel 30:6
  • Job while not understanding the discipline of God - Job 7:11
  • Missing the grace of God cause bitter root - Hebrews 12:15
  • Envy becomes bitterness - James 3:14

Bitterness will actively oppose any attempt to restore our love for God

Bitter or better - a channel of curses or blessings

Disciples need Jesus' example to overcome the pain of the cross

Jesus wants us to have his attitude toward suffering

  • What form do we expect our Christian suffering to take?
  • Are we looking for a Christianity that does not involve suffering?

Bible command us to get rid of all bitterness
Two ways to overcome bittereness:

  • Forgive - Ephesians 4:32
  • Trusting God is at work in all things for our good - Romans 8:28


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