Quiet Times Search
Search Quiet Times via a keyword or stringSearching for "trying" in the Quiet Time Archive
Displaying results from "0" to "25". (68 found)
| 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:
There is no gratitude without prayer |
| 2008-03-04 - Power of Gratitude - It is so Hard and but I Love it Marriage - hardest year of a good marriage is the first one and the hardest year of a bad marriage is the last one God brings opposites together - rigid and let it go types Because God is trying to work off the rough edges If we are to grow through trials, we must learn to view them correctly First comes hurt, then can come anger or try to ignore it Other turn to "grin and bear it" or "this too must past" - blocks us from growth Garden of Gethsemance - Jesus expressed and dealt with emotional pain with prayer - Hebrews 5:7-10 If Jesus had to suffer, how much will we need to be perfected - Colossians 1:24 Trial both mature us and attract others at the same time Rejoice in the sufferings - 1 Peter 4:13 Must have heaven's perspective in every situation Even when can not figure out what God is doing - requires a child-like response Why me? > Why not me? |
| 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)
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 |
| 2008-04-28 - Falling in Love with God - Forever Seeking Falling in love with God - is attainable We will find what we seek:
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 There are many decisions that you need make about your relationship with God:
|
| 2008-06-26 - Purpose Driven Life - No Excuse for Not Serving The Bible warns against living only for ourselves - Romans 2:8 Trying to save our life; we will lose it - Mark 8:35 What excuse have you been using to not serve?
|
| 2008-07-02 - Purpose Driven Life - Real Servants (part 2) Real servants do every task with equal dedication Whatever you do, do it with all your heart - Colossians 3:23
Small taks often show a big heart Real servants are faithful to their ministry Servants finish tasks, fullfill their responsibilities, and complete their commitments Real Servants maintain a low profile Put on the apron of humility, to serve one another - 1 Peter 5:5 Servants are content with quietly serving in the shadows Be confident that nothing you do for God is a waste of time or effort - 1 Corinthians 15:58 |
| 2008-07-27 - 30 Days at the Cross - Who Gets the Credit? How quick human nature is to accept credit for certain accomplishments I will not boast about myself, except my weaknesses (Paul) - 2 Corinthians 12:5 Why boast about our weaknesses?
Who would want the power of God? A person that truly boasts in the cross does not:
Jesus could keep a full record of your credits and debts - but do you want that? sin and all? Are you trying to earn your salvation |
| 2008-08-31 - Teach Us To Pray - Hungry and Thirsty (part 1) True prayer is a yearning for God In the Bible a hunger for God always ends in prayer God invites us to find satisfaction in Him
|
| 2008-11-27 - Raising Awesome Kids - Compassion and Caring God cares! Nothing too great or too small can escape his notice We also some be available to meet the needs of our family Otherwise, because they have given up trying to reach us, they will have no desire to talk to us anymore "Why can't I reach my kids?" - we weren't there when they reached for us God hurts for us and with us He looks for and has compassion for us - Luke 15:20 We need forgiveness and we need to grant it Our children are.... children Expect a lot, let them be kids - God is patient with us |
| 2009-01-03 - Raising Awesome Kids - Foundations of a Spiritual Family Spiritual = to be on the inside what we trying to do one the outside: to be genuine, not to live a pretense of religious performance but to function out of a sincere relationship with God A spiritual family is where:
We can not take our families where we have not gone Children can spot a fake We must be:
|
| 2009-01-26 - Jesus with People - Nic at Night Some people's needs could be quickly dealt with: "Heal my blindness" or "Let me just touch your garment" But not Nicodemus, Jesus knew it would be a long night - John 3:1-3 Nicodemus, was a man looking for something:
Could this be right? Could Jesus be the Messiah? Jesus was straight to the point: I tell you the truth, you must be born again - John 3:3 Nicodemus knew he could get time with Jesus and he did Who was intrumental in answering your questions and healping you see the truth? |
| 2009-02-02 - Jesus with People - Seeing and Not Seeing Luke 7:36-50 - Simon, I have something to tell you Jesus is able to cut through the muck - right to the heart He had outspoken clarity - Luke 7:40 In truth Simon saw neither the woman or himself for how they really were Jesus did see the woman - Her sin was obvious as her brokenness He actions came from her new sense of reality Once she saw Jesus, she responded the only way she could have - compelled by love - 2 Corinthians 5:14 Jesus' words should have cut Simon deeply - But he who has been forgiven little lives little He wants to have a relationship with us Think of trying to have a relationship with ant - talking with it, caring for it and especially dying for it - it is unfathomable! How many times did Jesus change people's view if God? Who am I most like: Simon or the sinful woman? |
| 2009-02-09 - Jesus with People - Heart Determined to Persevre Nothing test our determination like opposition Satan is trying to discourage, dissuade, distract, and divide If we get focused on the persecution or persecutors - renders us ineffective and unproductive Pharisees ____ Jesus :
His purpose was not to avoid pain but to please God - John 4:34 Must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day - Luke 13:32-33 God has not called us to defend or protect ourselves - we are then only working for ourselves and not will be doing nothing for God |
| 2009-02-11 - Jesus with People - Heart Determined to Love Jesus' strongest and clearest denunciation of the Pharisees came in Matthew 23
His last and strongest words were spoken to wake them up He was trying to open their hearts and win them over to God |
| 2009-03-05 - Promises of God - Forgiving Ourselves When we accept God's forgiveness, we are compelled to forgive others including ourselves Some people spend years trying to figure out how to forgive themselves God has promised to forgive - let us experience forgiveness, rejoice in his forgiveness and express his forgiveness in all our relationships
|
| 2009-03-18 - Promises of God - Produces a Harvest Hebrews 12:11 - Discipline produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it Key ways to respond to God's discipline: Get Grateful Probably the most difficult thing to do during hardships It is the very thing that will help us to learn the important lessons God is trying to teach us Hunger for Holiness Media bombards us with devices, books, etc to make our lives easier God disciplines us for our good, we may share in his holiness - Hebrews 12:10 He is willing to watch his precious children to go through temporary pain for them have eternal peace Trust the Trainer We must trust him as the perfect trainer Training = something rigorous that stretches the trainee emotionally or physically God's discipline is exact what we need and he promises it is always for our own good |
| 2009-07-17 - A Life of Impact - Second effort Second effort Mark 8:22-26
|
| 2009-08-23 - Wild at Heart - Wild One whose image we bear Where do we come from? A man must know where he comes from and what he is made of both past and family fathers Most men are trying not to be like their fathers Who will they derive their sense of strength? To men God is: Distant and weak (How they would describe their father) Reminds us that life lived in fear is no life at all – all will die someday |
| 2009-09-01 - Wild at Heart - The wound (part 1) There comes a time when we simply have to face the challenges in our lives and stop backing down Men rarely praise each other directly - by way of accomplishments (“you are a wild man”, “what is up stud” The question – Do I have what it takes? Am I powerful? Until a man knows he’s a man he will forever be trying to prove he is one, while at the same time shrink from anything that might reveal he is not Boy learns who is he and what he’s got from a man
|
| 2009-09-09 - Wild at Heart - The fathers voice (part 2) When we see Jesus, Joseph is out of the picture – true father God – he had to learn who he really was and made of. Initiation involves a journey and a series of tests. We try to make our lives easier. What are you trying to teach me here? What issues in my heart are you trying to rise through this? What is it you want me to see? What are you asking me to let go of? Men are taught that a wound that stops you from playing is a girlish wound. No wonder we walk with our guts hanging out Most men minimize their wound David did not act like this at all - openly - “my heart is wounded within me” - Psalms 109:22 Suck it up, as the saying goes God is fiercely committed to you Wound that goes unacknowledged and unwept is a wound that cannot heal You’ve embraced and deserve is a would that cannot heal Whatever is denied cannot heal Certainly denial that it’s shaping the way they live today. |
| 2009-09-15 - Wild at Heart - Healing the wound (part 1) Source of real strength comes from the one that truly possess it. It was meant from the beginning that we have a desperately dependence on God “Apart from me you can do nothing” – We are made to depend on God God designed the human machine to run by itself Sin and our culture came together – prevent the wound from being healed – to be independent We believe deep in our hearts that if we need anything from anyone is a sort of weakness The Son could do nothing by himself – the Father and I are one Like trying to finish the marathon with a broken leg |
| 2009-09-20 - Wild at Heart - The Enemy (part 1) Any castles? Any great battles? Are there any great dragons? A man needs a battle to fight Early death of a man’s warriors keeps the boy in him from growing up If we can reawaken that fierce quality in a man – higher purpose, release the warrior within, then the boy can grow up and become truly masculine Every man is a warrior inside but the choice to fight is his own A man must have a battle to fight, a great mission to his life that involves and yet transcends even home and family. He must have a cause to which he is devoted even unto death – in the fabric of our being That is why God created you. Your whole life is in preparation for The lie from the enemy is that your role is insignificant No other man can replace you You are the hero in your own story - the main man A warrior has a vision Root of all our woes and false self was this: We are seeking to save our life and we lost it “Who ever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it” – Mark 8:35 For years all my daily energy was spent trying to beat the trails in my life and arrange for a little pleasure. Mercenary fights for pay, for his own benefit, his life is devoted to himself |
| 2009-10-10 - Wild at Heart - The Strategy (part 3) 2. Intimidation Our condition may become normal to use after a while - depression If you pray and fight against – It will get worse. Once the Enemy is discovered, he usually does not just roll over and die. Jesus says get tough and resist the onslaught Next level Satan tries intimidation and fear He wants you to agree with intimidation because he fears you Fighting back, he will lose – Resist the devil and he will flee – James 4:7 Why do so many pastor’s kids go off the deep end? Evil One is trying to an old tactic – strike first and maybe the opposition will run He can’t win, you know God is with us “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you” – Joshua 1:5 The Lord is a warrior, the Lord is his name – Exodus 15:3 How did Jesus win the battle against Satan? God was with him Doesn’t simply mean that he’ll be around - he will fight for us Satan is trying to appeal to the traitor’s commitment to self-preservation when he uses fear and intimidation. So as long as we are back in the old story of saving our skin, looking out for Number One, those tactics will work. Become a warrior The most dangerous man on earth is the man who has reckoned with his own death. All men die, few men ever really live. |
| 2009-10-19 - Wild at Heart - An adventure to live (part 2) Most spend the energy of their lives trying to eliminate risk Their children hear “no” far more than they hear “yes” If a man succeeds in securing his life against all risk, he will wind up in a cocoon of self-protection and wonder why he is suffocating Seizing upon some sort of competence and rejecting anything that cannot be controlled This a refusal to trust God and reach out for control – runs deep in every man False self’s desire is to have power over experience – to control events and consequences - Mark 8:36 Too may men forsake their dreams because they aren’t willing to risk or fear they aren’t up to the challenge or are never told that those desire of the heart are good Soul of a man isn’t made for controlling things His job is charter to explore, build, conquer, and care for all creation If you had permission to do what you really wanted to do, what would you do? "How" is a faithless question – How is God’s department… Ask "what" What is written on your heart? What make you come alive? Don’t ask yourself what does the world need. Ask yourself what make you come alive and go do that because what the world needs is people who have come alive I’ve met men who’ve used advice like it was permission They are deceived about what they really want Goal of Christian discipleship is the transformed heart We move from boy who needs the Law to the man who is able to live by the Spirit of the Law Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit then you won’t feed on compulsion or selfishness |
| 2009-11-24 - Master Plan - Selection (part 3) Few were converted in His lifetime.
Everything that is done with the few is for the salvation of the multitudes. Modern Practicals
|
