As we've been studying faith the past few Sundays, it's really caused me to inventory situations in my life. Situations where I acted in faith and situations where I didn't give faith a chance. You know...the "me" situations. Those selfish little things in life that happen where we say, "I can handle it." Well, I've come to realize my life has been and is full of "me" situations and as a result God has let me learn a lot of things the hard way.
During my time of reflection I really felt God putting the story of Simon Peter on my heart. You know the guy that left the fishing biz (on faith) to follow Jesus. The guy who also swore up and down that he had Jesus' back, yet denied Him not once but THREE times. Yeah, that guy. Even though Peter had his ups and downs, Peter was the rock. Like we've discussed, to have faith is to have hope and one can find a lot of hope in Peter's journey.
Thinking of Peter and his situations in the Bible, led me to a book that I have by Max Lucado called Cast of Characters (great read by the way). In one of the chapters he talks about Peter. As a matter of fact the chapter is titled, "The Gospel of the Second Chance." This chapter is based around Mark 16:1-7 (which I would like you to read and let me know what stands out to you about this verse), but there are other verses that Lucado points out that I would like to explore. Please read: Mark 14:27-31, Mark 14:66-72, Luke 24:33-34 and John 21:15-19.
As we study Peter's story this week I would like to encourage everyone to look deep into your own lives. How many second chances have you been given and what have you done with them? Also, how many second chances have you given to someone who fell short in your eyes? We live in a tough world that doesn't give out too many second chances, but luckily we serve a God that will.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Victory in Faith...
It's amazing how God works sometimes....isn't it? Just this morning God sent me scripture through a friend that just really fit our study. We've been talking about faith and how our faith grows over time. We talked about how faith is a spiritual muscle that needs exercise so that it's strong in times of need. Well the scripture I received today uses words like victory and overcome. Strong words, confident words, much like sure and certain.
You see I receive a scriptural text everyday (and when I say everyday, I mean everyday), from a friend who texts a group of men the passage of scripture he has studied that day. He does this to let the group know he has spent time in God's word. He does this so that group will hold him accountable. You see if I don't get that text on my phone at some point during the day, you can believe I'm making a phone call. Not only is this friend building up his spiritual muscle, but he's also building mine. You see I need that text everyday too. Today's text was right on time!
My friend has been studying 1 John. Any of you who have spent time in 1 John know that this book is a huge measuring stick for us as Christians. You don't have to read far to start feeling about as big as a mustard seed. Many of my favorite Bible verses come from this book. My personal favorite, one that has given me hope as God continues to grow me is 1 John 1:9. Our class Bible verse is 1 John 1:5-7. 1 John is an amazing book and I encourage all of you to read it. I know Greg is doing a study with the youth on 1 John now. I'll tell you like he tells them....it's only 5 chapters.
Today, I get my friends text and it is 1 John 5:4-5 and says, "for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." The Message paraphrases it like this, "Every God-begotten person conquers the world's ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world's ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God." That is strong!!! The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. That is convicting!!!! As a member of a perverse generation of little faith, I needed that today.
This week we will discuss 7 things that our faith can do for us (if we let it). I look forward to our time together this week. It is my prayer the we grow more confident, more sure, and more certain in the victory that we have in Jesus Christ. Through Him...all things are possible.
God bless,
You see I receive a scriptural text everyday (and when I say everyday, I mean everyday), from a friend who texts a group of men the passage of scripture he has studied that day. He does this to let the group know he has spent time in God's word. He does this so that group will hold him accountable. You see if I don't get that text on my phone at some point during the day, you can believe I'm making a phone call. Not only is this friend building up his spiritual muscle, but he's also building mine. You see I need that text everyday too. Today's text was right on time!
My friend has been studying 1 John. Any of you who have spent time in 1 John know that this book is a huge measuring stick for us as Christians. You don't have to read far to start feeling about as big as a mustard seed. Many of my favorite Bible verses come from this book. My personal favorite, one that has given me hope as God continues to grow me is 1 John 1:9. Our class Bible verse is 1 John 1:5-7. 1 John is an amazing book and I encourage all of you to read it. I know Greg is doing a study with the youth on 1 John now. I'll tell you like he tells them....it's only 5 chapters.
Today, I get my friends text and it is 1 John 5:4-5 and says, "for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." The Message paraphrases it like this, "Every God-begotten person conquers the world's ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world's ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God." That is strong!!! The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. That is convicting!!!! As a member of a perverse generation of little faith, I needed that today.
This week we will discuss 7 things that our faith can do for us (if we let it). I look forward to our time together this week. It is my prayer the we grow more confident, more sure, and more certain in the victory that we have in Jesus Christ. Through Him...all things are possible.
God bless,
Monday, November 9, 2009
I'm giving this a go....
I've never blogged before, so this is new to me. I thought it would be a great way to share the weekly lesson as well as the things that God is teaching me through the week. Please be patient with me as I learn how to do this. I know it has been an awesome tool for others and I look forward to the challenge.
So, I'm asking all the "Board" memebers to follow if you so choose. Let me know if you have any suggestions and hopefully this can be an awesome ministry tool for the class. Please let me know if you have any advice on how I could best use this to serve the group.
More to come soon...
God bless,
So, I'm asking all the "Board" memebers to follow if you so choose. Let me know if you have any suggestions and hopefully this can be an awesome ministry tool for the class. Please let me know if you have any advice on how I could best use this to serve the group.
More to come soon...
God bless,
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