Friday, May 23, 2014

Community in Bible Study

Community:
A place where people come together for a common goal.  
A place where there is safety. 
A place that provides nourishment, strength, and accountability. 

We find community in many places-  in our locales, in our social gatherings, in our organizations.   We come together sharing like interests and goals.  We protect one another from enemies of the community. We grow and help others to grow in our communities. 

Do you have community in your Bible Study?   Is it a place that your goal is to come closer to God, to know Him, to find direction and his will for life?  Are you allowed to be vulnerable in your study?  To share your feelings and thoughts without fear.   Are there others in your study that love and honor you, that correct you when you need it, that encourage you? 
 
A Bible Study community is a place where you fall in love -- with Jesus and with people.  Jesus awaits.  He wants to work with you and through you.  Members of the community should be loving, kind, gentle, patient, good, joyful, peaceful, faithful, and self-controlled with their ways and thoughts.  Members of the community should be willing to be open enough to trust that God has placed you in this specific community.  

A Bible Study community is a treasure.  One that should be sought after and cherished.  

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 
Romans 12:10                    

Friday, May 16, 2014

Therefore I have Hope

It was so nice to have singer-songwriter Jodee Lewis at our church last week sharing her beautiful voice to lead us in worship.  She was in our area for some performances.   

The message of her song comes from Lamentations 3:19-24.  

"Yet this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning." (Lamentations 3:21-23a)  



Jodee Lewis - I Will Wait For You (Lamentations 3) from The Crossing on Vimeo.


Lamentations 3:19-24 

Visit her website here: Jodee Lewis


Thank you Lord for your compassionate love to us. Thank you that I wake up every morning and find you have given me new mercies.  You are my portion Lord, and I will wait for you.   Amen. 

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Prisoners of Hope

Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; 
even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you. 
Zechariah 9:12         


Prisoners of Hope.  
We live expectantly for what lies ahead, but for now we are of the world and the prince of this world runs amuck. 

Jesus tells his disciples that the prince of this world was coming, but that Jesus was not under his power or control  (John 14: 30)       

Jesus goes on to tell the disciples ( and us) that "here on this earth you will have many trials and sorrows."  But we are to take heart because we can have peace in Christ (John 16:33) 
The prince of this world has already been judged and is condemned (John 16:11). 

So what to do?   

Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.  (1 Chronicles 16:11)
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him and and he helps me...(Psalm 28:7)
The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. (Psalm 29:11)

So we watch, we wait, and we look up.    Expectantly.  Though we have troubles, God is our fortress - He is our safe place.  Jesus has shown us the way and we have his peace. 

Live expectantly.  Take hold of Christ's peace.  Rest in God's strength.