New Year

I want you to think about this new year the same way many other cultures think of a new year, as a fresh start. Make it your day of atonement. I encourage you to evaluate this past year, ask for forgiveness for the things you've done against the Lord and pray for this year to come. Pray that you will grow closer to the God who formed you in the womb.

Shakespeare

It's strange where we can find new inspiration for prayer...

In Shakespeare's As You Like It, we find Orlando fighting with his brother Oliver over his portion of their father's estate. He says, "The spirit of my father grows strong in me, and I will no longer endure it: therefore allow me such exercises as may become a gentleman, or give me the poor allottery my father left me by testament..."

I find it strange that he says that his father's spirit is growing strong within him. Though Oralando is speaking of his physical father, how much greater would it be if we could say the same about our heavenly father? When was the last time you were able to say that his spirit was growing in you? When was the last time you asked for your father's fortune that you might take all that he has laid aside for you, that you may honor him with it?

Dwell on it, pray about it.

Images of Christ

I ran across a a quote the other day by C.S. Lewis stating, "I do not want my image of God, I want God." How profound are these words? We continually make our own assumptions and images of God in our minds. What if we could take these destructive or even constructive images of Christ and throw them away to make room for the God that was, is and is to come. He is greater than any image we can create in our small minds. I want God!

On the Side of the Road

How often do we pass that person on the side of the road? Personally I've only stopped three times in my life, twice to change a tire and once to give someone a jump. But how many times do we stop to help others with more problems than just road-side maintenance? I mean spiritually do we notice the invisible hand wave or inaudible cry for help from our friends, co-workers or acquaintances? This is probably one of the most challenging things we face in our lives; whether to pull over or not.

Through my years here in Providence I've seen many spiritual lives grow and some fizzle out. To watch them grow is one of the most amazing things to be apart of, on the other hand, watching the light in peoples lives grow weaker is one of the most terrible things to witness. Can you see the light starting to fizzle in someones life? If so are you going to pull over and help them rekindle the flames they once had? For me the answer is simple, I pull over! I can't bear to watch another person step away from Christ, to be swallowed by darkness. I can vividly remember when I decided to take my own path over God's path and the devastating things that happened to me. To know someone could go through the same thing makes me step on the brakes with both feet to jump out and help. I don't mean that always I'll talk to them immediately, but I go to Christ in prayer over what it is he would have me do in that situation, that is unless I see them driving toward a cliff. What I'm saying is that, perhaps we need to keep our "spiritual eyes" open to the people around us and no just pass them by when then their hands are flailing in desperate need of help. The situation calls for prayer first and foremost, then action. Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and find grace to help us in time of need."

Let us pray that we won't become that passive driver on the road of life and pass those in need, but that we would have the compassion to see when we need to pull over and help. And in all things, no matter how big or small that we would bring it to the God of grace that abounds in mercy and love for his children.

FRieNDSHiP

I was really thinking about what "Friendship" meant to me today. It came up in a conversation with a great friend of mine and those three simple but very meaningful words, "I Love You." I only tell a handful of people those words, perhaps it's so that they don't loose their full impact in my life. You all have probably heard these words thrown around like Mardi-Gras beads to a rambunctious crowd of on-lookers; but, search deeply as to whom you say it, and consider, "Do I really mean it?" Jesus says in John chapter 15 verse 13, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friend." Do you love this person so much you are willing to die for that person? If your answer is "YES!!" then I encourage you to say these words, because behind them is great power. On the other hand, If your answer is "NO" then I strongly encourage you to evaluate that friendship. Don't get me wrong I don't mean its wrong if you say no, but consider how this person effects your everyday life.

I have a handful of people I call friends, and I can say that they have impacted my life and I have theirs. For these people I would drop anything, give them a kidney if they needed it, put my life in danger for if it came down to it. these people have continually brought me back to God and his word, we have edified each other in the word, and (maybe not in all cases) laughed and cried together. I thank God that he has put them in my life and that they, at most are only a phone call away.

Do you have anyone in your life that you can say that about? If not I encourage you to pray for God to put those people in your life, that you may know what a true friend is, and get to grow closer to each other through God. Friends are Important, and to those who read this and are my dear friends, "I love you."

Prayer Meeting

Prayer Meeting is Every Monday and Thursday at 8pm upstairs in the Rec. Center. Come to one or both, Either way Niki or myself will be there and we'd love to see you and pray with you!

Right or Left

What if you're in your car and just like every time before you go to turn right but ended up going left? would you freak out a little or go with the flow? I have to say for me that I would freak out not a little but a lot. But how often on our life's journey do we choose one direction and end up actually (not by our initial choice) going a different direction? God has the road map to our lives and knows what's best for us in the long run. perhaps you're at a crossroad and are going to make that left turn? Does God really want you to go that way or the other? My suggestion is to really seek God's discernment in the situation, He'll give it to you weather or not you want to hear it. Seek Him in all things, He only wants to do the best for you, that's why He's our Abba Father. Think about it, pray about it!