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02.04.12 GPS for Families

Admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:15:39 +0000

GPS for Families

Learning self-control is not easy for any of us. Developmentally, one of the most important tasks of growing up is learning self-regulation. As infants and toddlers, children are completely dependent on adults for all of their needs and decisions. As they grow, it is our job to help them develop their own internal system for deciding what choices to make in every situation.

Show your child one of their favorite treats, like a cupcake or brownie or ice cream. Put it within their reach, but tell them they cannot have it. Tell them if they can resist the temptation to eat it, their reward will be great. Say a prayer with them asking for self-control, and encourage them that they can do it. Distract them for a while with a book or game. After an appropriate amount of time, tell the child they have done such a good job resisting the temptation that they have earned an even better reward. Allow them to have the treat, and give them a handmade coupon for another treat of their choice later in the week.

God rewards our self-control. And, we gain it through spending time with him and through practice. Ask your child if praying and your encouragement helped him or her to feel better about resisting the temptation. As we spend time talking to God, reading his word, asking for help from others, God helps us get stronger.

Weekly Prayer

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.

02.03.12 “Trust & Control”

Admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:15:30 +0000

Scripture Reading: Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com

Reflection Questions

It is a common belief that these words from Psalm 23 are the most familiar and well known words of scripture. David’s psalms speak of God’s great compassion and grace. They are often read in those hours we find ourselves most in need of God. In situations and circumstances beyond their control, people of faith hold these words near as they seek to put their trust in God.

How does the 23rd Psalm describe the relationship that we, the sheep, have with God, our shepherd? What parts of that description do you find most meaningful to you?
In our reading yesterday, we noted the fact that “the amount of space in our hearts that is inhabited by fear limits the amount that can be occupied by love.” What does Psalm 23 teach us about the love that we find in our relationship with God?

Weekly Prayer

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at
a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.

02.02.12 “Fear & Control”

Admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:15:32 +0000

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:35-39

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com

Reflection Questions

In I John 4, we find these words, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.” You might think of it this way. There is a limited amount of space in our hearts. The amount that is inhabited by fear limits the amount that can be occupied by love. Our need for control is a by-product of that fear.

Feelings of isolation and separation from God stir up our anxiety and our fear. Paul seeks to undermine that thinking by affirming that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Take a moment to consider the question, “What fears do I have in my life right now?” In a moment of prayer today, ask God to help you see how fear may be fueling your desire for control.

Weekly Prayer

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at
a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.

02.01.12 “Love & Control”

Admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:15:28 +0000

Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com

Reflection Questions

Our reading for today comes from one of the more well-known passages of the Bible. The 13th chapter of I Corinthians verbalizes what Paul earlier describes as one of the “greater gifts,” the gift of love. One writer puts it this way, “The beauty of Christianity is in learning to love.” In these verses, Paul illustrates what it looks like to love like Jesus loved.

In our Monday reading, we looked at the contrast that Paul makes between the “acts of the sinful nature” and the “fruit of the Spirit.” Love is listed as one of those fruit. In what way does Paul define love for us here? What challenge do these words offer to our need to sometimes control others or outcomes?
If we understand love according to this definition, how might our tendency to control actually degrade our ability to love?

Weekly Prayer

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at
a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.

01.31.12 “Humility & Control”

Admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:15:30 +0000

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:5-11

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com

Reflection Questions

Most scholars believe that the poetic words found in verses 6-11 of the second chapter of Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi come from one of the earliest hymns of the Christian faith. In that form, these words would have served as a powerful affirmation of Christ’s lordship, as well as a striking reminder of how Jesus emptied himself of his divine power and authority in order to offer us the gift of salvation. Paul implores us to follow the same path, and in doing so, to adopt the attitude of Jesus.

The picture of Jesus that is portrayed in these verses is of someone releasing control in order to serve. What does the act of releasing control reveal to us about the “attitude of Christ” that we are encouraged to adopt ourselves?
What connection do you see between humbling yourself and releasing control?

Weekly Prayer

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at
a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.

01.30.12 “The control that is in step with the Spirit”

Admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:15:47 +0000

Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:22-25

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com

Reflection Questions

In the fifth chapter of Galatians, Paul offers a contrast between what he calls “the acts of the sinful nature” and what he describes beginning in verse 22 as “the fruit of the Spirit.” In verse 17 of this same chapter, he writes, “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.”

The word control appears in the list of “fruit” cultivated by God’s spirit, but Paul makes an important distinction. It is an ability to control oneself rather than other people or circumstances that surround each individual. How might our increased ability to control ourselves help us deal with the “out of control” world we live in?
In what way might our desire to control others be seen as an “act of the sinful nature” which is actually “contrary to the Spirit”?

Weekly Prayer

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at
a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.

01.28.12 GPS for Families

Admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 06:15:00 +0000

GPS for Families

During times of stress, children sense our discomfort and anxiety. Even if you do not discuss it with them or you think you are hiding it from them, they know something is wrong. God created all of us with this intuition, or sixth sense, so we can become alert to situations that are bad for us.

If there is something going on that is causing you stress, talk about it with them in simple terms. Tell them you are worried about something, but you know God will help you through it. Ask them to pray with you about it. Then teach your kids and yourself to stop worrying.

Read Matthew 6:25-34. Read from a children’s Bible if you have young children. These verses remind us that it is pointless to worry. Instead we should pray and focus on God. He knows what we need and will provide for us, just as he provides for the birds. If God cares and provides for the birds, how much more will he care for us?

To remind yourselves about this, make some bird feeders to hang in your yard. Find pinecones on the ground or at a craft store. Cover them in peanut butter and roll them in birdseed. Tie or hot glue a string to the top and hang them in trees or shrubs outside. Pay attention to the birds that visit your feeders, and remind each other that God loves you even more than the birds.

Weekly Prayer

Lord, we live in your world. Your word reminds us that you have called us to be “the light” in this world and “the salt of the earth.” In spite of our differences and in the midst of our struggles, help us to be living witnesses of your grace and love. We pray today, Lord, for your kingdom to come into our lives that we may be used to bring your kingdom into the world. AMEN.

01.27.12 “The politics of Jesus”

Admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:15:31 +0000

Scripture Reading: Luke 6:27-38

27 “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com

Reflection Questions

In our final reading of this series, we turn to one of the most challenging teachings shared by Jesus. In the coming months, we will each continue to educate ourselves on the different platforms and ideas presented by the varying candidates running for an elected office. We will seek in our own way to make wise decisions, to vote for great leaders, and by God’s grace we pray, to participate in this process in a way that models the grace and love we have received in Christ. We believe we bear that responsibility as those called to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.”

At the same time, we realize that our higher calling is to a different “platform,” a way of life captured in these words from Luke 6. They are the most audacious, controversial and revolutionary ideology ever presented in human history. We recognize that we live in a crazy world. We believe that Jesus is the only answer to that chaos. These words represent his politics and the ultimate allegiance for all those who have committed their to lives to him. May we be those people, sons and daughters of God fully devoted to seeing our fervent prayer fulfilled for God’s kingdom to come into our lives, and through us, into the entire world. May God bless and guide you as you follow Jesus this day and every day of your life.

Weekly Prayer

01.26.12 “The ministry of Jesus begins”

Admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:15:24 +0000

Scripture Reading: Luke 4:14-21

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to release the oppressed,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com

Reflection Questions

In all four gospels, John the Baptist “prepares the way” for the coming of Jesus. In Luke 3, Jesus is baptized by John. And in the opening verses of chapter 4, Jesus enters the desert, where according to verse 2, “for 40 days he was tempted by the devil.” In Luke’s Gospel, the ministry of Jesus officially begins in the 14th verse of chapter 4. Returning to his hometown of Nazareth, Jesus read these words from the prophet Isaiah and proclaimed, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

In the last two days of our reading, we have looked at the words of the prophets and the challenge they presented to the nation of Israel. Both Micah and Jeremiah highlighted God’s allegiance to justice, mercy, righteousness and humility. How do you see that reflected in the way Jesus describes the beginning of his own ministry?

Weekly Prayer

01.25.12 “Stay humble, seek God”

Admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:15:37 +0000

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 9:23-24

23 This is what the LORD says:

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom

or the strong boast of their strength

or the rich boast of their riches,

24 but let the one who boasts boast about this:

that they have the understanding to know me,

that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,

justice and righteousness on earth,

for in these I delight,”

declares the LORD.

Read additional translations at Biblegateway.com or youversion.com

Reflection Questions

The time of Jeremiah’s ministry is described as “a period of storm and stress when the doom of entire nations — including Judah itself — was being sealed.” Though the exact date of his death remains unknown, it is believed that Jeremiah lived to see a portion of his prophecy fulfilled in the Babylonian conquest of Judah, which sent a large number of the Israelites into exile in 586 BC.

In yesterday’s reading, we highlighted Micah’s instructions to “walk humbly with God.” Jeremiah strikes a similar tone by warning against boasting in “wisdom, strength of riches.” Why does God emphasize humility so strongly throughout the scriptures?
In verse 24, Jeremiah says that if we boast, it should be that we “understand and know” God. If God is as Jeremiah describes him in the second half of verse 24, how well would you say you know and understand God?

Weekly Prayer