Tag: 3rd F (Page 5 of 6)

This is the commentary I shared at the Yank this past Saturday.  Topic follows up on the four points shared at CSAUP a couple of Saturday’s ago Build Pray Keep Wait.  Topic is listen and give God the time to speak.

Most of us picture prayer sort of like a monologue: We talk to God, sharing our heartfelt thanks and offering up our petitions and requests. But prayer is really more like a dialogue, where we speak with God and the Lord speaks to us.

Listening prayer centers around a clear request for God’s guidance. In making our request, we give God’s guidance authority over the other voices we hear throughout our daily lives. Then we hit the pause button. We wait on God in a time of silence, giving the Lord opportunity to speak to us. We focus our time of prayer on intentional, purposeful listening and let God do the talking.

This is really important because as followers of Jesus, we all desire to do the right thing and make the wisest choices. Yet we are constantly being bombarded with the noise of the world all around us. There are lots of voices telling us very different messages, and too often we find ourselves challenged and confused about what we should do in a given situation or what is really the best way ahead. These are times when we can seek God’s guidance through listening prayer.

This is from the Listening Prayer guide from Faithward.org

This week let’s pray for Pilgrim Progress, Stone Cold, Flintstone, Stinky Bird, Waterboy, Gold Digger, Loveboat, Spiderman, Less Nessman

Tiger

This is the devotional I shared at the CSAUP on Saturday.  Found at devotional published by New Lisbon Church.  Goods words to reflect on.  Have out Pax at the end to pray for this week.  If you were at CSAUP, remember to pray for the number ahead of yours.

I don’t know who is author of the following, but I thought it was worth a reminder for us all:

There is a distinct difference between those who live for God, and those who simply go to church, and call themselves “Christians.” Living for God is a life of …self sacrifice. He begins to live, move, and breathe in and through us. It’s a life of doing His will above our own. Its a life of love, kindness, compassion, gentleness, integrity, and boldness. It’s a life that bears FRUIT! It’s not a self-seeking life that follows only its own selfish desires, even at the expense of others. It’s a life that can be seen in our home, work, and relationships… both publicly and privately. It can be evidenced by the way we talk to people, the way we forgive people, the way we treat people, the way we handle their feelings and deal with their actions toward us. It’s a life of humility, not pride. It’s a life of forgiving others and ourselves. It is not a life of perfection, but it IS a life of accountability; to God, and to others. It’s a 7 day a week life. Not a 1 day a week, when certain people are looking, kind of life. If we live for God, people will know it. They will see it, as they come to know us. If not, we need to ask ourselves if we might just be going to church, and going through the motions. Are we trying to change the Word, or are we allowing the Word to penetrate and change US? Because the closer we draw near to a loving and powerful God, the more He changes us. We don’t remain stagnant. We don’t remain hard. We soften, and we grow.

This week let’s pray of Double Stuf, Sledgeomatic, Volt, Red Ribbon, Voodoo, Tesla, Buckshot, Sparky, Dr Seuss.

Tiger

The following is based in part from devotion published by In Touch ministries: 

Men tend to separate life into categories, work, home, faith, and leisure. Yet that’s not how the God sees us. His interest in us is not confined only to faith. He cares about the details of every day. 

Believers are in union with Jesus Christ through His indwelling Spirit, every aspect of a Christian’s existence has a spiritual connection. There’s no time in the day when the believer’s life separates into “sacred” and “secular” components. The anxious heart that distracts us from prayer is as much God’s concern as the tired mind that easily drifts into temptation. 

Scripture emphasizes God’s commitment to the believer’s whole self: “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness” – 2 Peter 1:3 . Day-to-day particulars of life matter, too. We need never wonder if God can or wants to meet our needs. God grants whatever is required to grow faith—whether that means food, comfort, knowledge, or peace. 

The loving heavenly Father sees us in our entirety, not physical beings with a spiritual life on the side. We cheat ourselves when we think God is interested solely in our spiritual needs. He has many kinds of blessings to offer, if we just ask. 

Prayer PAX this week: Gumby, Hipaa, Alan Tate, Mayor, Tater Hole, JJ, Wojo, Wet Nutz 

This is taken from NIV 365 Daily Devotional – thought it really good.  Begins with a passage from Isaiah 53:4-12

4 Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,(A)
yet we considered him punished by God,(B)
    stricken by him, and afflicted.(C)
5 But he was pierced(D) for our transgressions,(E)
    he was crushed(F) for our iniquities;
the punishment(G) that brought us peace(H) was on him,
    and by his wounds(I) we are healed.(J)
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,(K)
    each of us has turned to our own way;(L)
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity(M) of us all.

7 He was oppressed(N) and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;(O)
he was led like a lamb(P) to the slaughter,(Q)
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression[a] and judgment(R) he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;(S)
    for the transgression(T) of my people he was punished.[b]
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,(U)
    and with the rich(V) in his death,
though he had done no violence,(W)
    nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the Lord’s will(Y) to crush(Z) him and cause him to suffer,(AA)
    and though the Lord makes[c] his life an offering for sin,(AB)
he will see his offspring(AC) and prolong his days,
    and the will of the Lord will prosper(AD) in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,(AE)
    he will see the light(AF) of life[d] and be satisfied[e];
by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant(AG) will justify(AH) many,
    and he will bear their iniquities.(AI)
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[g](AJ)
    and he will divide the spoils(AK) with the strong,[h]
because he poured out his life unto death,(AL)
    and was numbered with the transgressors.(AM)
For he bore(AN) the sin of many,(AO)
    and made intercession(AP) for the transgressors.

Do you feel tired or poor? Do you long for freedom? Do you feel tossed by life’s storms? 
Most of us experience these conditions at some point. Isaiah describes Someone who understands exactly how we feel. Even his own people rejected this “man of suffering” (Isaiah 53:3). Many hated him. Nothing about his mere physical appearance attracted people. In short, most of us wouldn’t have given this person the time of day.

Humans are born with the instinct to strive for more.  Innovate and invent. Better ways to accomplish tasks, save time, cut costs.  More wealth and more toys.  Truth be told, most of us can likely do more in our work outs as well.  I bet if most of us were to be honest we could all run a little faster or do a few more reps.  More is a mindset.  More is very easy in some areas, or at least the motivation to more is greater.  

What if we begin to consider “more” in our spiritual life?  More time in scripture, more time in prayer, more time listening for God’s voice.  In John chapter 10 Jesus says “I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.” The Spirit wants to give us “more”, we only need to be willing to receive. 

As I write this, I am about an hour away from heading out of town to take my daughter to her first year of college seven hours away.  I know many of you have done this in the past and some are doing this year.  I am pretty certain you have all handled it better than me.  Again, I find myself wanting more.  More time with my little girl, more time to protect her, to teach her, to not have to let her go.  But I think, too, that the time for more is now.  All of these things I want more of are not going away, in fact they will likely return in a much greater way.  As we all know, life has a way of coming at you fast.  There is a lot of “more” in the future with her, especially more money.   

I don’t know if anyone needs to read this, but I do know that I needed to write it.  No matter the season of life you are in, the time for more Spirit is now.  To prepare for when the next “more’ of life arrives. 

This week let’s pray for our site Q’s, Broke, Stinky Bird, Sparky, VooDoo, Big Pappy, Dirt, Wojo, Round Up, Clavin, Sargento, Whoopee, Buckeye, JJ, EZ Rider, Linus, Tube, Pockets 

Tiger 

We think of disruptions in the sense of obstacles.  Kids being too loud while the game is on, getting an email at work right at quitting time.  Altering our pleasure. Getting in the way.   Disruption is defined as “a disturbance or problem that interrupts an event, activity, or process.”  But sometimes disruption can be a good thing.  

In order to move forward in our lives, we have to be willing to embrace disruption.  We often speak of 1% better each day.  Maybe some disruption can change 1% to 3%.  Stop being satisfied with small gain, aim for something larger.  If you want to run 5 miles faster, then change something.  Take an inventory of your actions and activities, a hard, honest inventory, and make your plan.  So, the question becomes, what in your life needs to be disrupted?  What is in your life that isn’t making you better?  What are you not doing that you know you should be? 

Late in his career, after he had become the all-time major league leader in hits, Pete Rose was asked in an interview why he still ran all–out on every ground ball he hit, even those he knew would lead to an out.  He responded with “because if I stop getting better, then I stop being good.”  In Matthew 19 Jesus tells the parable of the rich young ruler: Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life(O)?”(P) 

17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”(Q) 

18 “Which ones?” he inquired. 

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery,(R) you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’S“>c and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]”(T) 

20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 

21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect,(U) go, sell your possessions and give to the poor,(V) and you will have treasure in heaven.(W) Then come, follow me.” 

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. 

A life disrupted.  What may not seem easy, can lead to the greatest reward. 

This week let’s pray for Def Leppard,  Stroganoff, Whopee, Freight, Tool Time, Broke, Sister Act, Big Pappy, Huckleberry.  No reason, let’s just lift these HIMs. 

Tiger