Scripture: Galatians 2:2f Indeed I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinions, and I am no longer driven to impress God. (The Message)
O: Paul doesn't care what anyone thinks of him. He doesn't even worry what God thinks of him, because in Christ he already knows what God thinks of him! He's not worried about pleasing anybody. All he cares about is his mission to share the good news of God's love in Christ Jesus.
A: I wish I cared less what people think of me! I am a people pleaser. I really would not want folks to think I'm impatient, although I sometimes feel that way; or selfish, although sometimes I want what I want when I want it; or angry, although sometimes I feel furious. If only I could count more on what GOD thinks of me, made real in Christ, and less on what the world thinks of me...If only I could put the sharing of the good news at the center of everything, all the time...
P: God, may it be so, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Bible Study for March 10
Scripture: Deuteronomy 15:7ff When you happen on someone who's in trouble, or needs help among your people, with whom you live in this land that God your God is giving you, don't look the other way, pretending you don't see him. Don't keep a tight grip on your purse. No. Look at him, open your purse, lend whatever and as much as he needs. Don't count the cost. (The Message)
Observation: Wow. Does this count all the guys standing down by the freeway with their pitiful little signs? Aren't there some exclusions? Can't I draw a line around this somewhere so I can know I am safe? And this is the Old Testament!
Application: This is a radical call to a radically different lifestyle, and it goes all the way back to the beginning. The "open purse society," if you will. It didn't start with Jesus! I have to say I don't feel ready for this. It feels like it could undo everything, so I really don't want to take it seriously. But the message is painfully clear, and has reached my heart. Can I become more generous, without judging?
Prayer: God help me loosen the strings on my heart, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
Observation: Wow. Does this count all the guys standing down by the freeway with their pitiful little signs? Aren't there some exclusions? Can't I draw a line around this somewhere so I can know I am safe? And this is the Old Testament!
Application: This is a radical call to a radically different lifestyle, and it goes all the way back to the beginning. The "open purse society," if you will. It didn't start with Jesus! I have to say I don't feel ready for this. It feels like it could undo everything, so I really don't want to take it seriously. But the message is painfully clear, and has reached my heart. Can I become more generous, without judging?
Prayer: God help me loosen the strings on my heart, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Life Changing Bible Study Ash Wednesday
Scripture: Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of Jesus, and Salome brought spices so they could embalm him. (The Message)
Observation: They came in love, to do what they knew to do to honor Jesus. They loved him and brought spices to put with his body to preserve it in death, because they could not imagine that he was yet alive. They wanted to remember his goodness and grace and liberating presence, to honor the past, now that he was gone, because their minds could not wrap around the truth of his ongoing presence and power.
Application: In what ways am I bringing spices to preserve something I really believe to be dead and gone? How does my mind fail to wrap around the truth of Jesus' presence here and now, at Starbucks, in the heart of Peoria? How do I fail to imagine his power to surprise, awaken, renew, upset, and deliver me right here and now? I need this day of ashes and reflection; this day of turning back to God, to remind myself: He is not dead. He is alive. And because he is alive, I can live renewed, refreshed, re-focused by his love. Thanks be to God!
Prayer: God help me allow it to be so, for Jesus' sake. Amen
Observation: They came in love, to do what they knew to do to honor Jesus. They loved him and brought spices to put with his body to preserve it in death, because they could not imagine that he was yet alive. They wanted to remember his goodness and grace and liberating presence, to honor the past, now that he was gone, because their minds could not wrap around the truth of his ongoing presence and power.
Application: In what ways am I bringing spices to preserve something I really believe to be dead and gone? How does my mind fail to wrap around the truth of Jesus' presence here and now, at Starbucks, in the heart of Peoria? How do I fail to imagine his power to surprise, awaken, renew, upset, and deliver me right here and now? I need this day of ashes and reflection; this day of turning back to God, to remind myself: He is not dead. He is alive. And because he is alive, I can live renewed, refreshed, re-focused by his love. Thanks be to God!
Prayer: God help me allow it to be so, for Jesus' sake. Amen
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Daily Devotions with Life Changing Bible Study
Life Changing Bible Study
The underlying principles of Life Changing Bible Study:
LISTEN: “I will teach you and instruct you in the way that you should go.” (Psalm 32:8)
INQUIRE; “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” (Jer 29:13)
FAITH: “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” (I Timothy 4:7)
EXPERIENCE: “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” (John 13:17)
How to go about it:
Find the scriptures for the date in the Bible Reading Plan (there is a long version and a short one)
Read the passages with an open heart, expecting the Spirit to speak into your life
When you have read the passages ask, “What is the word for me today in these readings?”
Scripture: Write down the specific passage that speaks to you in a journal (I use the Life Journal from New Hope Church in Oahu, which outlines this process. Copies are available in the church office)
Observation: Write down what you see in the scripture (observations about the text. What is going on? Why is this relevant to me today)
Application: Write down how you might be called to be different today because of what you have just read.
Prayer: Write out a short prayer asking that you might be able to make the changes you have discovered you need to make.
It is recommended that you keep a prayer list and keep track of when requests were added and when you felt they were answered in any way.
Bible Reading Plan (or go to http://www.lifejournal.cc/ for current day’s reading)
Ash Wednesday, March 9 Deuteronomy 10-12, Mark 16
Short version: Deut 8; Mark 15:16-41
Thursday, March 10 Deut 13-14; Galatians 1
Short Version: Deut 15:1-11, Gal 1
Friday, March 11 Deut. 16-18; Ps. 38, Gal 2
Short Version: Deut 18:9-13; Ps 38; Gal 2
Saturday, March 12 Deut 19-21, Gal 3
Short Version: Deut 20:3-4; Gal 3
The Lenten Season
Lent is a time for reflecting: for reminding ourselves of the great gift given to us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, who is the Christ; for renewing our gratitude; for refreshing our spirits with the living water he promises to pour into our hearts and lives; for making decisions to follow him more closely and practicing those decisions through the classic spiritual disciplines of the Christian faith.
It is a time for making room for prayer and listening; for taking time to search the scripture; for reaching out in acts of service; for worshiping more regularly, for stretching our hearts to be generous with others and the church.
I find it helpful to give something up during this season. I don't do it as a punishment, but as a way of reminding myself who and whose I am. As my mind and heart reach for the familiar comfort of food, or television, or chocolate, or a soda -- or whatever I've given up-- I have an opportunity to say to myself, "Just for this season, I'm going to give this bit of time and attention to the needs of my spirit, instead of the needs of my body. Just for this season, each time I yearn for that little burst of endorphins to keep me going, I'm going to turn my heart to God, so that I remember that it is only in God that I ever keep going."
This Lent I'm considering fasting from food one day each week (I'm a real addict), and from the internet one day each week. We'll see how it goes. How about you? What might you be "giving up" for the season.
It is also helpful to add something. I'm adding this blog, and will be trying to get a daily devotion posted from my Life Journaling most days. I hope you will check in and give me some feedback about those posts. Let's make it a conversation -- a hopeful conversation -- for this Holy Season.
Join us down at Spirit of Hope tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, for quiet personal meditation and imposition of ashes 6:30 - 7:30 a.m. or Noon - 1:00 p.m. Then come by at 6:30 p.m. for a service of candle light, scripture, silence, prayers, ashes, and gathering around the cross.
It is a time for making room for prayer and listening; for taking time to search the scripture; for reaching out in acts of service; for worshiping more regularly, for stretching our hearts to be generous with others and the church.
I find it helpful to give something up during this season. I don't do it as a punishment, but as a way of reminding myself who and whose I am. As my mind and heart reach for the familiar comfort of food, or television, or chocolate, or a soda -- or whatever I've given up-- I have an opportunity to say to myself, "Just for this season, I'm going to give this bit of time and attention to the needs of my spirit, instead of the needs of my body. Just for this season, each time I yearn for that little burst of endorphins to keep me going, I'm going to turn my heart to God, so that I remember that it is only in God that I ever keep going."
This Lent I'm considering fasting from food one day each week (I'm a real addict), and from the internet one day each week. We'll see how it goes. How about you? What might you be "giving up" for the season.
It is also helpful to add something. I'm adding this blog, and will be trying to get a daily devotion posted from my Life Journaling most days. I hope you will check in and give me some feedback about those posts. Let's make it a conversation -- a hopeful conversation -- for this Holy Season.
Join us down at Spirit of Hope tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, for quiet personal meditation and imposition of ashes 6:30 - 7:30 a.m. or Noon - 1:00 p.m. Then come by at 6:30 p.m. for a service of candle light, scripture, silence, prayers, ashes, and gathering around the cross.
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