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Searching for "relationship" in the Quiet Time Archive
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2008-02-26 - Power of Gratitude - Uncommon Peace

What enables us to have such uncommon peace? - Commonality

Relationship with God
Decision to make Jesus Lord of our lives
Basic mission - to seek and save the lost

If we in a battle together, we are unlikely to attack one another

Stay committed to God with the mission and discipling firmly in place, our unity will remain

Three warning signs, if not doing:

A. Daily diet

Time in the Word daily - Acts 17:11
Daily prayer - Luke 11:1-4
Share our faith daily - Acts 17:17
Open with our lives daily with one another - Hebrews 3:12

B. Lack of commitment
C. Lack of discipling

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

2008-03-09 - Be Still My Soul - Early Morning Time

Jesus went to God early in the morning
If Jesus needed to do this, how much more should we?

Excuses:

I'm not a moring person
I have to leave for work early
I have to get the kids off to school
I don't want to be legalistic

How does spending the early morning with God help build a closer relationship with him?

Show the priority of this relationship
Our waking thoughts determine the tone and course of our day
Quietest times of the day
Emotion have had time to recover
Able to clear our consciences of guilt
Cast our burdens upon the Lord
Able to draw from his power for the day ahead (Psalms 5:1-3)

Hard time getting our of bed?

Go to bed at a decent hour
Set a definite wake up time
Be responsible for getting out of bed - your responsibility
Do whatever it takes to wake up
Take an early morning shower
Two clocks, far from bed

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

2008-03-14 - 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

2008-03-15 - Be Still My Soul - Exciting Personal Bible Study

What happen to the days when you could not wait to learn more from God's word?
When was the last time you regretted having to close your Bible and go on to other activities?

Excuses:

Days of excitement are for young Christians
Mature means being dead and lifeless
See other older Christians not doing well and assume that is our fate

Paul: "I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me" (Philippians 3:12-16)

The only way to a deep, growing relationship with God - which includes feeding on His word.
Some are not put forth the effort required to dig deeper; have become lazy
Some are satisfied with what they already know and are content being spoon-fed.

"Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity" (Hebrews 5:11-6:3)
We need to train ourselves (1 Timothy 4:7; Hebrews 5:14)
"This the one I esteem he who ... trembles at my word" (Isaiah 66:2)

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

2008-03-26 - Be Still My Soul - Pointed

We can not be close to God in prayer if we deal only in generalities
God indeed wants to answer our prayers - how will we know what God is doing if we pray in generalities?

Abraham - Genesis 18 - prayed to save the city if there were 50, 45, 40, 30, 20, even 10 righteous people

Our lack of specific praying reveals a distance in our relationship with God

More specific in your gratitude - become more grateful
More specific in confession - understand the sin you are commiting
More specific in your requests for friends and family - see how God will work

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

2008-04-03 - Falling in Love with God - Fear

The other emotional response that undermines our love for God

Perfect love drives our fear - 1 John 4:18
Fear greatly affects our ability to love; renders lifeless our love for God

Fear one of the most powerful and universal tools Satan uses for:

Keep man from the knowledge of God
Experience of God's power
Experience grace in our lives
Taking our eyes off of God and onto our circumstances and insecurities

There is healthy fear (like fearing God) but unhealthy fear is one that controls us and causes us to turn away from God's direction
Fear is rarely rational

Why are you so afraid - Matthew 8:26
Don't be afraid - Matthew 14:27
Don't be afraid - Matthew 17:7
Don't be afraid - Matthew 28:10
Don't be afraid - Mark 5:36
Don't be afraid - Luke 5:10
Don't be afraid - Luke 8:50
Don't be afraid - Luke 12:7
Don't be afraid - Luke 12:32
Don't be afraid - John 6:19-20
Don't be afraid - John 12:15
Don't be afraid - John 14:27

God understands the destructive nature of fear
He simply commands us to deal with our fears through our relationship with him

2008-04-04 - Falling in Love with God - Doing vs Being

Remembering the height from which you have fallen - Revelation 2:1-7
Doing the right works does not mean you are doing good

Not a substitute for dealing with our heart

Satan's plan: Damage our relationship with God, then damage our faith about our ability to change

Ephesians

Are Hardworking
Have Persevered
Are Intolerant of Evil
Endured persecution

We can not draw near to God by activity

2008-04-05 - Falling in Love with God - Faithful Follower

Israel - when in the dessert, they did not need plant to know that God

In the end they were wishing they could be back into slavery

The way back from wandering is not found in activity but pulling out the scrapbook and remembering
When we had the conviction - "God will take care of me"

Remember:

Holiness was a simple issue between you and I God; not "having to be open"?
When your relationship with God was more private than public?

2008-04-07 - Falling in Love with God - Dashed Hopes

We had hoped to become leaders
We had hoped not to move again
We had hoped that people would understand our needs
We had hoped overcome sins
We had hoped husband or wife would make changes

On the road to Emmaus - they did not see Jesus in their walk until Jesus' lit a fire under them

It is not until lost it all - that we will listen to God

David (1 Samuel 18-22)

Lost a position
Lost his wife
Lost a wise counselor
Lost a friend
Lost self-respect

The purpose is rediscover him

Lost hope in your relationships - God may want you to rediscover how He can meet all your needs
Lost hope in financial stability - God may want you to rediscover how to totally depend on him
Lost hope in someone changing - God may want you to rediscover his expectations for you

2008-04-12 - Falling in Love with God - Our False 'Gods'

Here are some false 'Gods' we can create in our mind:

He get "attitudes" when we misbehave
He does not really forgive
His power is limited to people's choices
He has no reason to his plan
He does not always answer prayer; too busy
He thinks we ask for too much stuff
He does not want to "over-bless"
He will bless when you have earned it
He looks are the results of our performance
He barely tolerates our presence

All of these ideas are false, contridict the Bible, and are from Satan

If this is my "Father", I will have a turbulent relationship with "him"

2008-04-17 - Falling in Love with God - Experiencing the Spirit

What does it mean to NOT experience the Spirit?

Paul had six questions (Galatians 3:15)

Who has bewitched you?
Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law or believing what you have heard?
Are you so foolish?
Trying to attain your goal by human effort?
Suffered so much for nothing?
Does God give you his Spirit because you observing the law or because you believe?

Paul's point: You are falling out of love with God

Our works will never validate our relationship with God
Only relying on the Spirit, can we feel free to have deepening relationship with God

Spirit helps with:
Help not have a heart of stone - Ezekiel 36:24-27
Speak to us not to fear - Haggai 2:1-5
Encourage one to return to God - Isaiah 44:22

No phone calls, sermon, nor spiritual book can move my heart live the Spirit

Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing - John 6:63

We are never alone on this journey - constant source of strength, wisdom, truth, and refreshment

2008-04-18 - Falling in Love with God - Intimate Communication

What will God have to do to reach us?

Where theology, structure, and programs are powerless, a relationship is able

I must do everything to stay close to God

John 1:18, Jesus is -

close to the Father's heart (NRS)
lives in the closest intimacy with the Father (Philips)
exists at the very heart of the Father (The Message)
lives in intimate communication with the Father (Dios Habla Hoy)

2008-04-20 - Falling in Love with God - Communion

Biblical communion at some meals:

Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor; he reclining at the table with them - John 12:2
Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table - Luke 22:14
Here reclined at the table with them - Luke 24:30

To fall in love with God, we need to relax and "recline at the table" with our maker
We need to let our guard down

Our relationship with God must be a feast, not a protein shake or an energy bar
Intimacy with God must a priority above all else

2008-04-26 - Falling in Love with God - Suffering

Not content to wait for heaven - groaning is never spiritual

Expectations on earth - we are frequently disappointed
Only expectations that exceed our imagination - are satisfied from heaven

Revelation 1:9 - John was a champion in the suffering; patient endurance that are ours in Jesus

We can lose our love for God because we are surprised by suffering

Only place for comfort in our relationship with god

Paul was in conflict between the Earth and being in heaven - 1 Philippians 1:23-25

Since we have not reached the resting place (heaven for us), we don't 'as we see fit' - Deuteronomy 12:8-10

2008-04-28 - Falling in Love with God - Forever Seeking

Falling in love with God - is attainable

We will find what we seek:

If we seek relief in salvation, this is what we will find
If we seek acceptance and a community, this is what we will find
If we seek wisdom and insight, this is what we will find
If we seek effective ministry, this is what we will find
If we seek God more and more deeply, this is what we will find

What are you seeking?

Lord searches every heart; if you seek him, he will be found by you - 1 Chronicles 28:9-10

How many times have we tried to do something with seeking him first?

None of us can be "strong" without seeking
Talent, experience, and insight are cheap gifts and can never take the place of a heart that seeks after God

There are many decisions that you need make about your relationship with God:

How much time should go by without special prayer time?
What am I trying to accomplish in my Bible study?
What do I need to allow the message of God really soak into our heart?
Where can I go and be really free to wrestle emotionally with the will of God?

2008-04-29 - Falling in Love with God - Seeking Only Him

If God's people will humble themselves pray and seek his face, he will hear from heaven and forgive us - 2 Chronicles 7:11-16

Even after the temple was built, God was concerned whether his people will still seek him

God himself was often "felt" but not "found" - He has the same concern today

Difference: being members / having a deep personal and individual relationship with God

In his pride the wicked does not seek him - Psalms 10:1-4

One thing I ask: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord, gaze upon the beauty - Psalms 27:1-9

Nothing will satisfy like seeking his face

2008-05-01 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Forgiveness, part 1

Jesus calls for unlimited forgiveness - disciples plea to increase their faith

If on-goning relationship difficulties - maybe one or both are too concerned about who sinned the most rather than focusing on reconciliation

With a willingness to forgive, we cannot be forgiven by God - Matthew 6:14; Matthew 18:23-35

We must forgive in the way that God forgives - Colossians 3:13
He forgives quickly, completely, and repeatedly - and then forgets the sin - Hebrews 8:12

2008-05-09 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Money - Root of All Evil?, part 1

Bible warns the love of money
Love of Money can lead to: greed, envy, jealousy, stealing, and ingratitude

For some of us, materialism/people who have money = people who have more money than we have

Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 - Whoever loves money never has enough
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 - God gives man wealth and possession and enables him to enjoy them

Issue not if we have money, but how we view it, obtain it, and use it
God uses America churches to fund missions - not based on the level of relationship with God

2008-05-12 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Don't cry over split milk

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead - Philippians 3:12-14

Much of our challenge is in accepting failures without feeling like failures

Peter and Judas were both betrayers
Peter was forgiven and Judas would have too if he had not killed himself

Mistakes are part of the growing process

Performance mind-set - try to minimize our failures (no risks)
Terminal thinkers - avoid calling them mistakes

Gospel allows us to start over and over again
Failure to achieve dreams is one our greatest challenges from our past

Shock > denial > anger > depression, apathy, or peace (grace of God)

BIG PICTURE - being right with God, growing in our relationship with him, and helping others

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