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:
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
|
2008-03-02 - Power of Gratitude - Making Peace with the Past Putting the past behind us is very important to maintaining the attitude of gratitude God is the God of new beginnings Also also need to put past sucesses behind us - if glory days are in the past, so is our gratitude Sins in the past - either what someone did to you or what you did to other/God Dealing with past - goal to find how the past is messing up the present not to live in it David psalms - he struggled at the beginning of many of the psalms and figured it out at the end during most Writing feeling to help resolve the past - not new, David did it centuries ago Forgetting the past was never to be inclusive of past blessings What were you worry about a year ago? Don't know? God brought us through it! |
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? |
2008-04-14 - Falling in Love with God - Holy Spirit is everywhere We may suffer more from our neglect of God's Spirit than through any other spiritual problem We need to be aware of the spirit all the time A look through the Bible:
|
2008-04-24 - Falling in Love with God - Heaven in Heaven Earth has nothing I desire besides you - Psalms 73:25 Jesus taught about Heaven and who lives there - GOD Heaven is full of angels: Children and churches have angels We might even entertain angels not even knowing it From heaven:
|
2008-05-03 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Rest of the Story The first person who presents a case - seems right - Proverbs 18:17
Involving everyone on a decision will help others to feel valued and for you to consistently have good decisions We have trouble listening to other opinions besides our own Can you get hurt by other that love you? Yes - Double indemnity insurance policy against unresolved issues (Matthew 18:15-17 and Matthew 5:23-24) |
2008-05-14 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - I was Born this Way Son will not share the guilt of the father - Ezekiel 18:20 Environment or heredity - most likely both Must be slow to judge situations we do not completely understand otherwise may bless us with an understanding in a way we do not want Other extreme - develop a victim mentality regarding ourselves or others Can lead to being angry, use drugs, being immoral, or just about anything else We have difficulty applying this to a murder Answer: despite it being more difficult and having different backgrounds, the standard is still the same He does not ask us to do anything he will not enable us to do Identify the sin > repent of it > start relying on God grace > formulate a plan to overcome sin Psychology can find root causes but it is powerless to find a cure Hezekiah and Josiah were righteous amount a line of kings that were evil The promises of God are far greater than our past and present challenges Pray that we may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way - Colossians 1:10-12 |
2008-05-15 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Disappointed Mathew 23:37 - Talks about how Jerusalem killed the prophets and those God has sent to them Disappointed people are not happy people Disappointed = depressed or discouraged by the failures of one's hopes Disappointment in others exposes a basic selfishness; by definition is rather self-focused Most assume that God often views us with a disappointed heart Luke 19:41-42 (parallel verse to Matthew 23:37) - If you only had known on this day what would bring you peace Are you often disappointed in yourself or others? Humility is needed - Selfishness and pride is the opposite
Disappointment is un-Godlike; Concern is the godly quality which comes from self-denial and agape love |
2008-05-19 - Power of Spiritual Thinking - Sentimentality Can easily become sentimental when talking about salvation:
All have sin and have fallen short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23 Being "broader" than the Bible puts you on the wrong road God will be the judge and he has given us the basis of his judgement - John 12:48 Extremes:
|
2008-05-24 - Purpose Driven Life - What Drives Your Life? What shouldn't drive our life (will miss God's purposes for your life): People are driven by guilt Allows the past to control their future God turned a murder (Moses and Paul) into a leader and a coward into a hero God specializes in giving people a fresh start People are driven by resentment and anger - Resentment always hurts you more than it does the other person People are driven by fear - from unrealistic expectations and high-control situations People are driven by materialism - Your value is not determined by your valuables People are driven by the need for approval - those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it Living a purpose driven life, knowing your purpose:
|
2008-06-01 - Purpose Driven Life - The Heart of Worship (Part 1) Surrender is an unpopular word, implies losing Heart of a true worshiper of God is surrender Three barriers to 100% surrender are: fear, pride, and confusion Can we trust God? Trust is essential, you can not surrender to God if you do not trust him Fear keeps us from surrendering - God is love and love us deeply and casts out all fear God is willing to have his son die for us - Romans 5:8 Admitting our limitations The oldest temptation is want to be like God - Genesis 3:5 That desire wants complete control We want to be taller, smarter, anger, stronger, more talent, more beauty, and wealthier. When faced with our limitations we react with irritation, anger, and resentment. |
2008-06-03 - Purpose Driven Life - Best Friends with God God wants to be your friend God's ideal relationship - Adam and Eve (no rituals, ceremonies, or religion) Moses, Abraham, David, Job, Enoch, and Noah had intimate relationships with God Most in the OT had just the fear of God You are not longer servants but friends - John 15:15 Through constant conversations Make it a habit to have daily devotion time but it more than just that God wants to be included in every activity in your life (Some think you have to get away) Key to the friendship is not changing what you do but your attitude toward what you do Pray all the time - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray as often as possible Help me trust you You are here with me I'm depending on you You are my God How awesome you are! Pray as often as possible Your goal is not a feeling but an awareness of the reality that God is always present Through continual meditation Thing about His Word throughout your day - who God is, What he has done, and what he has said Meditation is simply focused thinking - Worry is a form of meditation Friends share secrets God told his secrets to Abraham, Daniel, Paul, his disciples, and others friends When you read your Bible or hear a sermon - develop a practice of review the truth in your mind |
2008-06-04 - Purpose Driven Life - Developing Your Friendship with God You are as close as you choose to be to God Must work to develop your friendship Must choose to be honest ...about your faults and feelings No one in the Bible was perfect:
We may harbor resentment toward God He wants you to hold back nothing about how you feel Choose to obey John 15:14 - You are my friends if you do what I command We are not equals - We obey obey God because we love him True friendship isn't passive; it acts "Great things for God" - Great things come once in a lifetime; small things come everyday Must choose to value what God values What does God value the most? His lost children Must desire a friendship with God more than anything Longing, yearning, thirsting, hungering - that was David Nothing matters more NO: What is it worth to you? NO: What cost is too much? Problems are wake-up calls for you come back to him |
2008-06-05 - Purpose Driven Life - Worship That Pleases God God wants all of you All of your soul, mind, heart, strength God is pleased when... ...our worship is accurate
...our worship is thoughtful
... our worship is practical
|
2008-06-11 - Purpose Driven Life - Experiencing Life Together Life is meant to be shared Fellowship - now refers to casual conversation, socializing, food, and fun Jesus knew that 12 was the maximum size for a group for everyone to participate In real fellowship people experience... ... Authenticity
... Mutuality (Romans 1:12)
... Sympathy
... Mercy
|
2008-07-05 - Purpose Driven Life - Gods Power in My Weakness (part 1) God loves weak people and everyone has weaknesses We usually deny, defend, excuse, hide and resent weaknesses God wants to use our strengths and weaknesses - 1 Corinthians 1:27 Admit your weaknesses Might be a good idea to list them Two great confessions:
Be content with your weaknesses I am glad about my weaknesses, so the power of Christ may work - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Reasons to be content:
|
2008-07-09 - Purpose Driven Life - Made for a Mission (part 1) Your mission is both shared and specific Mission = Latin word for "sending" As the Father has sent me, I am sending you - John 20:21 Jesus understood he was on a mission:
We have been sent to speak for Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:20 Your mission is a continuation of Jesus' mission on earth He call us not only to come to him but go for him |
2008-07-10 - Purpose Driven Life - Made for a Mission (part 2) Your mission is a wonderful privilege
Telling others how they can have eternal is the best thing you can do If have the cure for AIDs, you would share it You just have to remember the hopeless you felt without Christ Your mission has eternal significance Impact the eternal destiny of other people Consequences will last for ever; consequences of your job will not All of us must quickly carry our tasks; all work comes to an end - John 9:4 |
2008-07-23 - 30 Days at the Cross - It Keeps on Cleansing The blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin - 1 John 1:7 His blood was the only thing that could possibly attain forgiveness for me - Ephesians 1:7 Imagine the priest persuading an Israelite to trust God's ways and offer the lamb Jesus' sacrifice for our sins must be accepted first for the joy of our sacrifical life to make sense Where does your value come from? As a blood-bought sinner or my ability to produce a perfect life
|
2008-07-24 - 30 Days at the Cross - Freedom of Forgiveness True forgiveness - made possible by God Jesus forgave when it was most difficult by: Facing the truth Jesus didn't expect life to be fair He expected God to be fair He accepted everything from God without question (in the end) Judas only received kindness from Jesus Taught forgiving your brother should be limitless - Luke 17:1-5 Feeling the pain Jesus was totally honest with his feeling both God and man Greatest test was at the garden of Gethsemane Freeing his heart He trusted his Father and focused on him rather than on his own pain He yielded to God's sense of justice in the most unjust situation 1 Peter 2:23
|
2008-08-06 - Questions and Answers - Part 7 Answered the following questions in the Q & A section:
|
2008-08-07 - 30 Days at the Cross - Spectators or Sacrifices Sacrifice - we think of pain, suffering, loss, and the uncomfortable concept of denying self Sacrifice is a voluntary presentation of ourselves to God to be used for his purposes We can respond in serveral ways to the sacrifice of Jesus:
Christ love needs to compel us - 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 What happens when you offer your body as a living sacrifice?
What types of sacrifices is God asking of you right now? |
2008-08-09 - 30 Days at the Cross - If the King is a Servant What Jesus rightly deserved and what he received while here on earth were quite different Jesus didn't resent or resist his role He had a desire and compassion to help others Greatest of humility and suffering for him to subject himself to the cruelest of deaths - Philippians 2:8 People who have a major impact are the ones who serve Nothing moves the human heart more than someone who puts the needs of another above his own need It is a rare and precious expression of love Jesus has called you and me to be like him and take on his attitude toward serving others Jesus' serving was not limited to his friends (but also his enemies) His people will do the simple acts of service for the "least" among us Easier to serve someone on a schedule; more difficult if unexpected or interrupting my schedule |
2008-08-15 - 30 Days at the Cross - Nothing but the Best Do what comes naturally. Get in touch with who you are. Do what feels right. Be true to yourself. - These are the ideas the world tells us. Do they really change our lives? Jesus' blood shed challenges us to reconsider our empty way of life What a person is willing to give reveals a lot about the person Jesus was the perfect Son and an exact representation of God - Hebrews 1:3 God's precious and costly sacrifice seeks and demands a response. Make every effort is the only appropriate response - 2 Peter 1:5-7 Motivated by God's grace and example, we can increase our faith Sin weakens our character, steals our energy, and undermines our determination |
2008-09-10 - Teach Us To Pray - Alone and in Private Mark 1:35, Matthew 14:13, and Luke 4:42 - shows us that Jesus often went to solitary places to pray Solitude is essential in developing a deep relation ship with God Psalms 5, 38, and 42 are examples of how open and expressive David was with God We get fired up by sermons, fellowship, and music - Jesus went to be alone Prayer times make special memories Ideas for times with God:
|