day 16-plans I have for you

God's words to Jeremiah have been an encouragement to me for many years. I remember claiming their promise in the midst of ongoing disaster, not knowing how or when the hope they spoke of could be fulfilled. I discovered, among other things, that God is, indeed, a jealous God and requires that we are seeking"Him" (not our own kingdom) and that we seek Him with "all our heart." He has no interest in competing with our dreams. It can be a hard lesson. The end result is that we realize we are here for only one purpose. In that purpose is abundant life.
"The purpose of prayer is that we get ahold of God, not of the answer."
Oswald Chambers

Day 15

It is hard to think of ourselves as harmful to God's mission. Jesus was so strong in his warnings against those that speak about devotion to Him, but their lives show otherwise. In Matthew 7:15, He says "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart." If our life is not on mission with God, truly, then we are the wolves disguised as harmless sheep because our life is not representing what God truly is. We could be doing more damage to the kingdom than good. Let's be those who are truly on mission with God, discovering His almighty plan for our lives which in turn will produce much fruit for the Kingdom.

day 12-mercy me

Pretty lofty description in v.9...doesn't really seem to fit what we usually see or feel re: the body of Christ. Perhaps we have missed some context...don't have to look very hard, though. "The Message" translates v.10 as God bringing us "from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted." The truth is...mercy is all we've ever had. But His mercy is so great it's unfathomable.Sometimes it literally stops me in my tracks. It's the only explanation for the kind of servant leadership that Jesus exemplified. Who we really are--as individuals and as a body--ONLY makes sense in light of who God is and what He has done for us. I believe we must understand both sides of the coin in order to effectively fulfill His purpose.
"To lend each other a hand when we're falling...Perhaps that's the only work that matters in the end."
Fredrick Buechner

September 22

Before the crowds came Jesus went out and spent time with His Father. I need to spend time with God each day to be prepared for the crowds. The crowds want me to do their will, stay where I am, be safe, comfortable. God would want me to move out at His command, be the friend to those who I don't like or don't really have any thing in common with, see the needs of others, be willing to proclaim the good news to them.

day 9-God's heart

"When we live insular lives, when everybody around us believes the same things we do, has our same color skin, shares our political interests, we are easily made to believe absurdities about everybody else."
Whenever I consider the character of "God's heart" or, for that matter, Jesus time spent on this earth, compassion is what stands out head and shoulders above the rest. I've done the "holy huddle." In restrospect, I can imagine God shaking his head and saying, "That's not really what I meant AT ALL!" There was something distinct about Jesus' compassion. It always led
to action. Not only did He spend time with the people, he took time to appreciate who they were... He loved them.
Putting others' interests before my own seems absolutely foreign at times.
May I decrease so that You may increase.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Question number three sparked much thought around my home. When God looks at the future for the people in our community, what do you think He sees? It was two simple words with so vast an idea that it is almost uncomprehendable unless you truly understand the kingdom frame of mind - HIS PLAN. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. God has a plan for this city in relation to His Kingdom. His plan is not the state of our community now with examples of divorce, sickness, job loss, orphans, abuse, addictions, etc. If this is not His plan....then what is His plan? The Kingdom...His rule and reign within every man, woman, and child in this community. How do we get to this point? Chris left us with a question today that could answer this question. What would it look like if you were truly filled with the Spirit of God? The effect of that, being filled with the Spirit, would change lives all around this city. We would be those willing to serve others, suffering for our faith, and boldly proclaiming the Kingdom through our actions and deeds.

The song by Brandon Heath, "Give Me Your Eyes" is a great reminder.

Let our prayer be "Give me your eyes Lord to see everything I keep missing. Give me your heart for those forgotten. Give me your love for humanity."

in the world or of it

As we continue this week I discover I really miss my desserts, esp when our journey group brought desserts over.The time after dinner, & work, is when we have dessert, and now I substitute the devotional guide and prayer.I still do my am quiet time....but this an intentional time on the guide.It is getting a little easier, but I did not relize how much I thought the dessert made me feel ? Happy?, and when I read and pray in the evening, it is teaching me not about momentary ?happiness and worldly things, but a bigger picture of kingdom, that is less tangible....at least for now.I wonder what I will learn this time next weel....on the journey kathy

day 6-more on "the kingdom"

"True faith cannot be kept inside the narrow boundaries of the 'sacred,' as some would suggest; but is intended to be 'salt and light' in the midst of what is often called the secular world."
Jim Wallis
Therein lies the rub..How can any of us be salt or light when we are consumed by our own agenda? The Colossians were evidently "getting it." In contrast, one contemporary author confesses, "Six billion people live in this world, and I can only muster thoughts for one. Me." That is getting really old. If I actually listen to God when I pray, sometimes I'll hear Him say..."Get off your butt!" Pretty simple..direct. And if I think about it, the kingdom of God in me is more than enough to celebrate. It's more than enough to get moving. And being salt and light has got to be the most gratifying thing on this earth.
Father, forgive me for getting so distracted and off track sometimes. It's such a privilege to be a part of You.

Day 5 of 40 days devotional - Thursday 9/17

Luke 17:20-21
Where is the Kingdom of God? His Kingdom is His people. Why can't I see evident of His Kingdom? His people are stuck. Why can't I move out because I feel so helpless, I am helpless, He is strong. What I need is to be revived. I will praise Him, for His Son, for Jesus who died and is now gone above. I am reminded of the hymn "Revive Us Again". Revive me again, fill my heart with Thy love, May my soul be rekindled with fire from above. Hallelujah, Thine the glory! Hallelujah amen Hallelujah, Thine the glory ! Revive me again.

relevance

"The task of the church is not so much to make God relevant to the people as much as it is to make people relevant to God."
Ravi Zacharias
What If...we, as the body of Christ, were relevant? What would that look like? I'm just starting to search for how I should be praying for these new endeavors.
God, teach us how to be relevant to you. We certainly don't want to be involved in anything that you're not about or do any more damage than has already been done, sometimes "in your name." We don't want to waste time or resources. May our desire be solely to do what we see our Father doing and make Your name famous in the process.
love,
your child