As we begin this journey together, I'd like to start by praying for everyone who is participating. As we continue this journey, I welcome and encourage your prayers, either public or private for all of us who are making the effort to discipline ourselves to read/study the scriptures in expectation that God will be faithful to the renewing of our minds :)
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Father God. We confess Lord, that we stand insufficient before You. We acknowledge that without Your Spirit, without Your interference in our lives, we would be without hope- reading, studying, and performing in vain. And so we ask, humbly and for the sake of Your glory set forth in our lives, that You would bless this study! That You would place a hand of protection over it and over those who are attempting to commit to it. I pray Lord that You would interfere with our thought patterns and habits, teaching us a new way, Your way. We pray Father, that You would gently lead us, opening up understanding, softening our hard hearts, reminding us of Your love & truth, and transforming our living- both privately and publicly. I pray we would be reminded of why we believe, what we believe, and that accordingly/rightly, our lives would be a worshipful response, centered around You as our purpose, identity, joy, security, and satisfaction. We do desire to know You, love You, and do right by You. We cannot without You. Father, we openly, vulnerably ask that You guide and help us to live lives worthy of Your calling. We thank You for Your Son, Jesus, by Whom we are equipped to strive after such a great calling- a blessing, we know, we do not deserve. Thank You Father, for Your love, Your patience, and Your faithfulness!
Amen!
Amen! Amen!
ReplyDeleteok so i found the blog.....i don't know how to "join it", but i'm 'following' it. Will that work?
ReplyDeleteKatie,
ReplyDeleteNot sure how this blogging thing works...I assume that by posting my comments (as i did now with this one) is the correct way. Here is my comments, quest or though on the first sermon..
Romans 1:1-2
A bond servant was considered to be a lowest form of service, but yet God turns it around to be one of great meaning, to be proud off! Awesome!
Paul was also called by God to be an apostle not forced into it by social pressure or need, as mentioned in the sermon audio. I have been thinkg of the ques set forth in the sermon. . "God show me your will, have you called me to be here?" Im I doing your will?
I think in a small church where there is alot of need and not enough people, we sometimes take on more than what we should in an effort to fill the need. But is that really what we should be doing? Is that really God's will? or ours?
Lastly...I have walked away with this in mind: Is the gospel of God my good news?
Do I realy understand/comprehend/meditate in the gospel?
Do I rejoice as I read/hear His words?
Do I still get emotional when I hear His message of Love, Grace, Salvation?
Do I still appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made for my salvation?
Privately I've answer the questions, now I must act on it to glorify Him!
Paul understood his role & his mission. He didn't know how it was to be done, but he understood that it was not about him but about God and that all he had to do is have complete faith!
Thank you God for your good news to us and for never giving up on us!
In Christ,
V