Journey - a Community of Faith

Just Beginning a Fast?

2010-01-16T21:10:00.004-05:00

If you've never fasted before and you're responding to Journey's challenge to a 21 day fast, the following tips from Jentezen Franklin will be helpful to you:

How to Begin

Start with a clear goal. Be specific. Why are you fasting? Do you need direction, healing, restoration of marriage or family issues? Are you facing financial difficulties? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Pray daily and read the Bible.

Preparing Spiritually

Confess your sins to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of weakness. Forgive all who have offended you and ask forgiveness from those you may have offended (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3-4). Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ and reject the worldly desires that try to hinder you (Romans 12:1-2).

Deciding What to Fast

The type of fasting you choose is up to you. You could go on a full fast in which you only drink liquids, or you may desire to fast like Daniel, who abstained from sweets and meats, and the only liquid he drank was water. Remember to replace that time with prayer and Bible study.

Deciding How Long

You may fast as long as you like. Most can easily fast from one to three days, but you may feel the grace to go longer, even as much as 21 to 40 days. Use wisdom and pray for guidance. Beginners are advised to start slow.

What to Expect

When you fast your body detoxifies, eliminating toxins from your system. This can cause mild discomfort such as headaches and irritability during withdrawal from caffeine and sugars. And naturally, you will have hunger pains. Limit your activity and exercise moderately. Take time to rest. Fasting brings about miraculous results. You are following Jesus' example when you fast. Spend time listening to praise and worship. Pray as often as you can throughout the day. Get away from the normal distractions as much as possible and keep your heart and mind set on seeking God's face.

How to End

Don't overeat when the time comes to end your fast. Begin eating solid food gradually; eat small portions or snacks.

Also, be sure to check out Journey's fasting prayer list on a previous post this week.

Fasting Resources

2010-01-14T23:34:00.003-05:00

I had no idea that our fasting challenge was aligning with other churches across the nation! Wow!

Click on the title of this post for a lot of fasting resources - even recipes for the Daniel Fast.

Please feel free to post your fasting stories or suggestions by commenting on this post. (Remember to comment as "anonymous" this time so we don't temp ourselves into the wrong motivation for fasting :-))

Devotion - On Your Mark

2010-01-13T16:32:00.006-05:00

This past Sunday we talked about Devotion (committed love) for the Lord. Jesus shared three primary ways for us to show our devotion in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Specifically we looked at Matthew 6:2, 5, 16 where he talked about giving, praying and fasting.

As a result, members and attendees of Journey are invited to join in a 21 Day Fast. Knowing that many would have to plan for it, there was not start time given. Some began on Monday. Whenever you'd like to start would be great.

Here is a partial prayer list to get you started.

Personal Renewal & Needs

Journey Renewal

A Rekindled passion for Jesus, His Church & its mission

Renewed commitment to invest & invite

Numerical and conversion growth

Financial/Budget needs

10915 Dixie Highway

Leadership and discernment if this is right for Journey

The right scenario/negotiations

Provision of the needed funds for lease and improvements

Elders & Staff

Dan

Kevin

Mike

Karen - Journey Kids

Vinny - Journey Students

Kyle & Heidi (potential worship pastor): pray for God's will to be made clear in their lives.

Collins Elementary

2009-08-01T00:31:00.004-04:00

This is our last Sunday to bring school supplies for the Ready-Fest at Collins Elementary. If you weren't at Journey this past Sunday, check out the video.

Philip & Tamara With Their New Son - Daniel Vasya

2009-07-20T00:50:00.002-04:00

CHILL: Make Room

2009-06-28T16:14:00.006-04:00

Today, we continued our new, summer series CHILL by talking about our need to Make Room in our lives. The benefits of "making room" are many: peace of mind, better health, stronger relationships and availability for God's use.

To Make Room in our lives the first thing we have to do is: Accept Our Human Limitations.

I see the limits to everything human, but the horizons can't contain your commands! Psalm 119:96 (MSG)

God has given us some built-in warning lights to let us know when we're reaching our limits: pain, fatigue, stress, loss of joy, irritability... Are any of your God-given warning lights blinking? Are you aware of your limits?

Notice the second part of Psalm 119:68 - the inference is that God is limitless. And that's why, after accepting our limitations, we need to Do Less & Trust God More!

Remember, God can do more in 20 minutes than you or I can do in 20 years.

…We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure… As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally – not a bad idea since He’s the God who raises the dead! 2 Cor. 1:8-9 (NIV/Msg)

So what's your next step this week?

How about memorizing Proverbs 22:3

A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. Proverbs 22:3 (NLT)

Then you can Read & Meditate On: Psalm 119:89-96

What "you-specific" steps will you take this week to build margin into your life?

Good Reads:

Making Room For Life by Randy Frazee

Margin: Restoring Emotional, Phusical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives by Richard Swenson

A Minute of Margin: Restoring Balance to Busy Lives by Richard Swenson

The Overload Syndrome: Learning to Live Within Your Limits by Richard Swenson

Insanity

2009-04-27T13:53:00.003-04:00

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein

In our lives, in our families, and in our church, if we're hoping for change yet still doing the same things over and over - making the same mistakes over and over, aren't we at least a little crazy (insane)?

Palm Sunday

2009-04-06T08:53:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was a good day of worship and communion. We also challenged Journeyers to a viral outreach plan targeted on Easter:

Invest & Invite - Invest in the lives of those around you and Invite them to Easter at Journey
Facebook - Join the JourneyKy and the LiveAmped.com groups.
http://www.LiveAmped.com - Email the site to your friends, neighbors and co-workers
eInvites - Go to www.JourneyKy.org -> Contacts, and send eInvites to your email list
Invite Cards - Invite Cards are available through Friday at Journey's office
Fast & Pray - For God God to show up in a big way on Easter

Pray for numerical growth
Pray for people to follow Jesus with their lives
Pray about in whom God would have you invest & invite
Pray for the ones in whom you'll be investing & inviting.

www.LiveAmped.com now LIVE

2009-04-03T22:28:00.002-04:00

Check out the site devoted to our new series Amped! Relationships That Rock!

Pass it around!! Have Fun With It!!!

Easter 09 Cable Spot

2009-04-02T19:25:00.003-04:00

Together - Prayer Walk

2009-03-28T12:19:00.006-04:00

This morning I participated in Journey's Prayer Walk of Hempsteade. It was a great 1.2 mile experience for me.

In beginning, I had to walk from my parking spot to my assigned streets. On the way I was able to praise God for the beauty of His creation - the redbuds, the pear tree blossoms, the brilliant yellow bushes (don't know what they are).

As I began praying for the residents of each house, I prayed generally for God to meet their needs, for them to experience His peace and for Him to meet their needs. More specifically, as I encountered children's toys and play sets I prayed for the spiritual well-being of those children and in some cases child-like simplicity and faith for those parents.

When I saw repairs and renovations taking place, I prayed for any needed repairs and renovations in their lives. When I saw stacks of mulch bags, I knew they were preparing for spring and new life; then I prayed for God's new life to be evident in their home. When I saw open windows I prayed for openness to all that God wants to do in that home.

At one home I saw what looks like a new monument stone placed by a tree that was planted in memory of someone. I asked God to comfort them and fill their void with his love.

At many of the homes I prayed for openness and receptivity to the "Together" initiative and more so to the hope of Easter as represented by Journey's Easter mailer that will be in Florence and Union homes on April 6th.

Please feel free to share your experiences of prayer-walking or your experience of being prayed for.

Mike O.

Together - post cards

2009-03-28T09:05:00.004-04:00

In preparation for our new initiative "Together," some faithful volunteers hand-addressed 600 postcards to the residents of Hempsteade. Be sure to thank them for their hard work when you see them.

RESET in the Enquirer

2009-03-27T12:03:00.002-04:00

RESET & Journey were in the news this morning.

Water Bottle, not Bottled Water

2009-01-21T23:33:00.001-05:00

One of the practical things we learned last year during Is God Green? is how much potential damage bottled water can have on our environment. In an attempt to be responsible, Rachel and I have done the best we could to avoid buying more bottled water (which had been a previous habit). Today, I came across a great deal that I thought I would pass along.

Sam's club has a great deal on a Brita and Nalgene combination package. We've been Brita users in the past, but had put the pitcher away in the cabinet. We've simply used the refrigerator door's built-in filtering for the past several months. However, I had come to notice that it did not take much for the water to no longer be cold. Anyway, the Sam's deal includes a new pitcher, 2 filters, and 2 Nalgene bottles for $25. Nalgene sells the bottles on their website for $10/each.

Here's an additional option. Take the Filter for Good pledge, and they'll give you a $5/off coupon toward your purchase. This, in essence, means that you get the Brita pitcher and 2 filters free.

Not only is this "green" from an environmental perspective, it saves "green" from a financial perspective. It is one of those rare Win-Win situations.

One Hundred Pushups

2009-01-11T21:42:00.003-05:00

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. - Mark 12:30

If you are like me or the typical American, you've likely made some New Year's Resolutions. Odds are also great that you've already fallen behind on these resolutions. Here's a chance to re-up the ante and join me in a physical challenge.

I came across the Hundred Pushups Challenge several months ago. I started week one and got distracted. A secret to success in arenas of this nature is accountability. Here's my going public with this challenge and inviting you to join me.

A couple of months ago we learned about HD Living. One week in that series was focused on strength. It is important that we maintain healthy bodies. I believe there is an extreme in which physical health supersedes spiritual health; but more common is the lack of concern for our physical well-being.

I plan to start the 6-week program as posted at the Hundred Pushups Challenge Website beginning next Monday, January 19. If you're game to join me, drop me an email or post a comment here. I don't intend on inundating this blog with update posts. You can follow-up on my journey over at my blog where I hope to keep consistent updates.

Economic Encouragement

2009-01-06T20:17:00.001-05:00

Live with confidence in a sovereign God, not in fear of the circumstances around you.

Don't panic. Continue to do those things that you know to be right, wise, and consistent with biblical financial principles. Stop doing those things that are not.

Use this opportunity to take a hard look at where you can be a better steward (manager) - a more prudent spender, wise saver, cautious debtor, and yes, even a more generous giver. In the good times we all get a little lax. Crisis forces us to be more creative.

Talk with family and /or close friends. Encourage one another, share insights, reaffirm truths, and thank God together for his promises.

Be reminded that this too shall pass. We've been here before.

Suggestions from Dick Towner - executive director of the Good Sen$e Stewardship Movement.

Read through the Bible in 2009

2009-01-04T23:03:00.001-05:00

I must begin by making a confession: I've never systematically read through the Bible in a single year.

I've read my share, and read regularly. I'd like to think that I'm an above average student, but there has been the lack of systematic reading on my part.

I'm hoping to break the trend this year. I'm inviting you to consider joining me. I know that several days have passed into the new year, but you can join me and catch up.

I'm a techie, online, kind-of-guy. So, I've chosen to use YouVersion. YouVersion is a tool developed by LifeChurch.tv, whose pastor, Craig Groeschel was instrumental in coordinating the One Prayer journey that we participated in this past year. We also heard from Craig via DVD on one of those Sundays.

YouVersion makes it easy by having a homepage link to today's reading. If you miss a day, you can easily find the historic reading to catch up. YouVersion also has most modern translations. As long as you sign-up for an account, it will remember your preferred version each time you login.

Please feel free to drop me a line or comment if you so choose to join me in this task. Also, feel free to utilize YouVersion's built-in social element of "following." My username is nmabry.

Happy New Year, and Happy reading.

Call And Response

2008-11-06T00:22:00.001-05:00

A very important movie which is only out on limited release has made its way to Cincinnati. I am urging anyone who can and will to go see it this weekend. It opens this Friday, November 7th at the AMC Theatre in Newport On The Levee.

Call + Response Rated (PG-13)1:10pm, 3:25pm, 5:40pm, 7:55pm, 10:10pm, 12:30am

Check out the site: www.callandresponse.com

Money Matters

2008-11-05T19:48:00.001-05:00

Exchanging Fear For Hope
November 2, 2008

Avoiding a Personal Recession, Pt. 1
November 9, 2008

Avoiding a Personal Recession, Pt. 2
November 16, 2008

Title (coming soon)
November 23, 2008

Title (coming soon)
November 30, 2008

You can always check out our current series here and any past series here.

Listen: Strength

2008-11-05T19:25:00.001-05:00

Message: Strength
Series: HD Living
Date: October 12, 2008
Speaker: Pastor Mike Osborne

If you missed a week, we do everything we can to make it easy for you to catch up:

You can pick up a free CD of the message next time.
You can check out our iTunes channel
You can listen to it here:

Download (Right-click and choose "Save Target As" or "Save Link As")

Listen: Mind

2008-11-05T19:23:00.001-05:00

Message: Mind
Series: HD Living
Date: October 12, 2008
Speaker: Pastor Mike Osborne

If you missed a week, we do everything we can to make it easy for you to catch up:

You can pick up a free CD of the message next time.
You can check out our iTunes channel
You can listen to it here:

Download (Right-click and choose "Save Target As" or "Save Link As")

Listen: Soul

2008-11-05T19:22:00.001-05:00

Message: Soul
Series: HD Living
Date: October 12, 2008
Speaker: Pastor Mike Osborne

If you missed a week, we do everything we can to make it easy for you to catch up:

You can pick up a free CD of the message next time.
You can check out our iTunes channel
You can listen to it here:

Download (Right-click and choose "Save Target As" or "Save Link As")

What A Question!

2008-10-20T11:03:00.001-04:00

In my devotional reading this morning I came upon this arresting question: Am I willing to let God do in me everything that has been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ?

You might want to read that one again...Wow! That pretty much sums up the turning point of spiritual growth, life-transformation, sanctification and whatever other words you'd like to add.

Would you join me in asking that question personally for the next few weeks.

Mike O.

Listen: Heart

2008-10-15T19:52:00.001-04:00

Message: Heart
Series: HD Living
Date: October 5, 2008
Speaker: Pastor Mike Osborne

If you missed a week, we do everything we can to make it easy for you to catch up:

You can pick up a free CD of the message next time.
You can check out our iTunes channel
You can listen to it here:

Download (Right-click and choose "Save Target As" or "Save Link As")

HD Living Promo

2008-10-01T19:22:00.001-04:00

Journey - HD Living from Nathan Mabry on Vimeo.

Journey - a Community of Faith

Just Beginning a Fast?

Fasting Resources

Devotion - On Your Mark

Collins Elementary

Philip & Tamara With Their New Son - Daniel Vasya

CHILL: Make Room

Insanity

Palm Sunday

www.LiveAmped.com now LIVE

Easter 09 Cable Spot

Together - Prayer Walk

Together - post cards

RESET in the Enquirer

Water Bottle, not Bottled Water

One Hundred Pushups

Economic Encouragement

Read through the Bible in 2009

Search the Bible

Call And Response

Money Matters

Listen: Strength

Listen: Mind

Listen: Soul

What A Question!

Listen: Heart

HD Living Promo