"Having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route."
How have you turned and gone a different way this past year? Or are you only turning and going in directions you want to go?
About Me
- Raymond
- 38 year old, believer in the redemptive work of Christ is available to all those who desire it. I pastor a small diverse, growing community of people who desire to change lives and transform communities for the GLORY of GOD!
5 comments:
Ray,
Thank you for your leadership... indispensable;>
2008 is a year of misplaced priorities - focusing on worldly priorities vs. kingdom priorities.
I am caught in a cycle of focusing on the urgent (tough economy, global competition, business deadlines, securing income) vs. focusing on the important (Relationship with God and serving others) Ok.. I confess that relationships are important (get that smile off you face).
I have heard it said that life is not about time management but choice management - rings true to me.
Pray that I can re-develop kingdom-focused habits... praying, meditating, family, serving... 1st things 1st.
mark
Lord, help me focus on you! That's my hope this day. So often I find my mind wandering off of the things on which God wants me to focus. I can definitely relate to "focusing on the urgent." The year before last my walk with Jesus experienced more progress than in all years before combined. But this year I started relying on my own power and serving my own will. I've stepped backwards in a way. Today I pray for three things: renewal in my belief, victory over my thought life (and resulting actions), and my daughter's return to the faith of her youth. I never stop hoping God will give me these gifts. My thought life is the major problem -- to often I give into temptation and the easier path, refusing to drink from the Living Water (SATISFACTION) and make a sacrifice of the impulse to always do my will (CAN'T GET NO... SATISFACTION). My hope and desire is that through our 11 study I'll be able to make a sacrifice of my shame for letting my zeal grow lukewarm and my enemy get the best of me. Guys, will you come alongside me and help? -- Brian
Funny isn't, how in the scriptural reference that the wise men, weren't stupid enough to turn back after encounter the "child" Christ. Notice He was a child, not yet possessing healing power, or speaking mind blowing prophetic messages, but just playing or resting safely in the supervision of his mother. We as believer every week, or at least we should, encounter Christ in and through or during our devotions, and we have even experienced His healing power, or the comforting of the Holy Spirit, or the illumination of the Word to us, but yet we turn and return to that place. You know that place, the dark dank area that if it was displayed on the screen at the Mills we'd be utterly ashamed. So what do we do....how do we turn and go a different way....through daily prayers and intentional acts of going a different route. Intentionally permiated the atmosphere of our home oars with music that helps us to focus our attention on what we were placed here for in the first place. It's resisting the temptations to turn up the noise in our lives to deaden or drown out the still small voice that wants to whisper sweet somethings in our ear. Brian my brother, whom I love you know I am praying and walking alongside you as you send me the requests to do so. To Mark, God intentionally set us up on a crash course over a year ago, the wreckage is still fresh with how you and Trish "came alongside" Cherilyn and I , so please excuse me or us why we invade your space, and make ourselves comfortable while doing so. The days are coming that we will need a genuine friend(s) to walk with us or carry each other through a predistine storm. Your friend........Ray in Christ! I pray my faith in your hour of need doesn't fail either or any of you!
Gents,
Wow! What a week. Any question about the total deparvity of man? Greed... self promotion... deception. I am so thankful that God sought me and bought me and instilled deep in my soul an eternal hope - a transforming battle between his Spirit and my natural inclination to think, say and do evil. I thank God for his immeasurable love of and for me - He is my source of security - He is that enveloping peace in a time of uncertainty. Guys - breathe deeply of the One who is able.
mark
I really thought the year of 2008 would be a year of growth, but I had no idea of in what direction. I didn't know that the Men's Fellowship would be, and mean what it means to me today. That's GOD! It where HIS agenda met my winding road, and made the path a clear and defined mission to bring men back to a right relationship with each other and ultimately with Him. I am just thankful that each of you has made this just as important.
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