Day 39

Balancing your life

Blessed are the balanced, they will outlast everyone ..your life a pentathlon of 5 purposes ...

Love a God with all your heart

Love your neighbour

Go make disciples 

Baptise them unto ..identify with his church through fellowship

Teach them to do all things ..to be a disciple and grow to maturity

Keep your life in balance ...talk it through with spiritual partner or small group ...

Give yourself regular spiritual check up (5 vital signs worship, fellowship, growth in character, ministry and mission   

Write down progress in a journal ..Dawson Trotman ...thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through your fingertips ..record doubts, fears, struggles ..David did ..problems force you to focus on God

Pass on what you know to others ..knowledge increases responsibility

Jesus taught disciples to live for God's purposes ..love God (worship), love each other (fellowship), gave them the word so they could grow (discipleship), showed them how to serve (ministry) and sent them to tell others (mission) ....he wants us to live out his purposes and help others to do the same

Day 38

Becoming a World-Class Christian

You will either be a world class Christian or a worldly one ..not a me first faith that focuses on needs, blessings and happiness ..want God for their purposes

World class are saved to serve and made for a mission ..the only fully alive people on the planet ...accept the invitation to participate in the greatest, largest, most diverse and most significant cause in history ..His kingdom ..the only barrier is the way we think

Shift from self centred thinking to other-centred thinking ...mature! Need spirit to help ..see spiritual needs of others ..silent breath prayers for them

Shift from local to global thinking ..prayer makes you a partner with others around the world ..the great commission

Shift from here and now thinking to eternal thinking ...don't trade your life for temporary things ..invest ahead in people going there

Shift from excuses to creative ways to fulfill your commission..ask God if he wants you to serve on mission ...many Christians never ask this

If you want to be like Jesus you must have a heart for the whole world

Day 37

Sharing your life message

God has given you a life message to share.... Your testimony, life lessons, godly passions and good news

Testimony ...how Christ has made a difference in your life ..personal experiences ..witness is not expected to argue the case ..just report what happened ..shared stories build a relational bridge ..bypasses intellectual defences  ..... Life before Jesus, how I realised. I needed him ...how I committed my life ..difference Jesus has made

Life lessons ....truths God has taught you ..wise to learn from others

Your Godly passions .....he will give you a passion..be a spokesperson

Good news .....God makes people right with himself ..must learn to love people the way God does ...the salvation of one soul more important than anything else you might achieve in life ..you only have a short time

Day 36

Made for a mission

God wants you to join him in his work ... Your mission ..your service to unbelievers ..ministry is to believers

5 purposes .... Love him ..be part of his family ... Become like him ... Serve him .... Tell others 

Continuation of Jesus' mission

Your mission is a wonderful privilege ..working with God and representing him

Telling others about eternal life the greatest thing you can do for them

Eternal significance

Gives meaning to your life ..William James .. The best use of your life is to spend it for something that outlasts it

History's conclusion is connected to it ..Satan would rather you do anything else 

Need to abandon your agenda ..stop praying God bless what I do and prayGod help me do what you are blessing ...one more for Jesus ..you must care about what God cares about ..redemption of the people he has made ..the lost, found

Day 35

God's power in your weakness

God loves weak people

....usually we deny, defend, hide our weakness ..he wants to use our weakness for his glory ...God has never been impressed with strength or self sufficiency ...blessed are the poor in spirit

A weakness is any limitation you are powerless to change ..physical, emotional, talent or intellectual limitation ..God is never limited by our weaknesses

Admit your weaknesses ...be honest with yourself and with others ...only human

Be content with your weaknesses ..they cause us to depend on God ...help prevent arrogance ..encourages fellowship ...weakness increases our capacity for sympathy and ministry

Honestly share your weaknesses ...ministry begins with vulnerability ...Paul shared failures, feelings, frustrations and fears

Vulnerability is emotionally liberating, relives stress ..humility is being honest about your weaknesses

Strengths create competition, weaknesses create community

.... Do we want to impress or influence? Leadership requires credibility

Glory in your weakness... God can turn weakness into strength  ..my power is made perfect in your weakness

Day 34

Thinking like a servant

Service starts in the mind ..mental shift ... God is more interested in why we do something than what we do

Servants think more about others than themselves ..true humility ..not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less ...this what it means to loose your like ..forgetting self in the service of others.

If we stop focusing on our needs we become aware if the needs of others ...much service us self serving ...manipulation not ministry ..bargaining tool with God ..self denial is the core

Servants think like stewards, not owners ..God owns it all, just trusted to manage his estate... You cannot serve God and money ..money serves you, not money as your master ..ministry not money

Servants think about their work, not what others are doing ...don't compare, criticise or compete ..too busy doing the work God has given them ..they don't complain of unfairness ...just trust God and keep serving ..not our job to evaluate the other servants ..not our job to defend against criticism  ..the world does not understand what God values

Servants base their identity in Christ ..accept jobs insecure people would consider beneath them ..washing feet ..this task did not threaten his self image ..insecure people worry how they appear to others

Henri Nouwen ... We have to give up measuring our meaning and value with the yard stick of others

Servants think of ministry as opportunity not an obligation ..they enjoy helping people, meeting needs and doing ministry ..serve the Lord with gladness

Albert Schweitzer ..the only really happy people are those who have learned how to serve

Day 33

How real servants act

We serve God by serving others ..Jesus measured greatness in terms of service, not status ..having the heart of a servant is important ..shaped for service not self-centeredness.

Primary ministry should be in the area of your shape, secondary service is wherever you are needed ..you can serve all your life in the church without ever being a servant ..need a servant's heart ...you can tell by what they do

Real servants make themselves available to serve ..on standby ..if only serve when convenient...not a real servant ..you give up right to control own schedule

Real servants pay attention to needs ..looking to help ..need sensitivity and spontaneity

John Wesley ... Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can...... That is greatness

Real servants do their best with what they have ....don't make excuses, procrastinate, wait for better time ...do what needs to be done ..less than perfect better than best intention ..God enough fir God to use it and bless it...inviolate more than perfection run by an elite

Real servants do every task with equal dedication ...do it with all their heart ..size. of task irrelevant ..Jesus specialised in menial tasks ..washing feet, breakfast, lepers, etc ..was not in spite of his greatness, it was because of it ...servant heart revealed by the acts others don't think of doing ..don't look for great tasks to do, ordinary ones a good start

Real servants are faithful to their ministry ..trustworthy and dependable..never tire

Real servants maintain a low profile ..don't promote or draw attention to themselves ...sin of Pharisees is eye service to impress others ..don't serve fir approval or applause ..live for an audience of one ..you won't find them in the limelight...... Don't be discouraged if service taken for granted or goes unnoticed

Day 32

Using what God gave you

God deserves your best ...he wants you to focus on talents he has given you

To serve God ..discover your shape

Assess your gifts and abilities ..make a list ..ask others ..experiment with different areas of service ...try other areas and you'll discover your gifts

Consider your heart and your personality ..what do I enjoy ..lose track of time with ...do I like routine or variety...introvert or extrovert ..thinker or feeler ..competing or cooperating?

Examine your experiences ..forgotten experiences are worthless ..spiritual diary? Hindsight often reveals God's work.

Accept and enjoy your shape ..don't be envious or compare with others ..finish your race ..don't conform to expectations of others ..you will think others doing a better job or not as good as you think you do the job ... just concentrate on your lane and run the race with Christ as the finishing line ...avoid comparisons, resist exaggerations and seek only God's commendation

John Bunyan .... If my life is fruitless, it doesn't matter who praises me, and if my life if fruitful, it doesn't matter who criticises me

Keep developing your shape ..parable of talents ..cultivate our gifts, broaden experiences and become more effective ..use ability and increase it ..stretch yourself not settling for half measures

We are getting ready for eternal responsibility and reward

Day 31

Understanding your shape

Only you can be you ...if you don't make your unique contribution to the body of Christ, it won't be made

Abilities are the natural talents that you were born with ...all abilities come from God ( even if misused) .... Every ability can be used for God's glory ...what I'm able to do God wants me to do

To discover God's will for you life, examine what you are good at and what you are not ..God will not ask for dedication to task you have no talent for

Personality ... No right or wrong temperament for ministry .. Your personality affects where and how you use your gifts and abilities .. Like stained glass ... Different personalities reflect God's light

When you minister in manner consistent with your personality, you will experience fulfilment, satisfaction and fruitfulness

Employ your experiences ... Family ... Educational... Vocational ... Spiritual ... Ministry ... Painful

Painful are the ones most used! The experiences most resented or regretted ... Ones you wanted to hide and forget ..ones to help others ..people always more encouraged by weakness

Most effective when spiritual gifts and abilities used in area of hearts desire ..in a way that best expressed personality and experiences ..better the fit..the more effective

Day 30

Shaped for serving God

God shaped you for service ..planned every day of your life?

How God shapes your ministry ...

Spiritual gifts

Heart

Abilities

Personality

Experience

Spiritual gifts given for the benefit of others ..commanded to discover these ...don't get involved with gift envy or gift projection ( expecting others to have your gifts)

 ...these gifts are not the whole picture

Your heart ...bundle of desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams, affections ...source of all your motivations...the real you... We instinctively care about some things more than others ..don't ignore your interests ...there is a reason you love those things ..serve passionately with natural interests ..enthusiasm ..don't need motivation

Effectiveness ...passion drives perfection ..wired to love to do it ..duty not profit

Don't waste life on a job that does not express your heart ..meaning more important than money ...you can have a lot to live on, but nothing to live for ...aim for the better life serving God I a way that expresses your heart ...what do you love to do? Do it for his glory!

Thoughts 

Challenge ..career change? Need to consider in advice to children.

Day 29

Accepting you assignment

You were put on earth to make a contribution ..to make a difference ..to add to life on Earth, not take from it ...your ministry/service

Created to serve God

Saved to serve God ..not saved by service, saved for service ..serve out of joy and gratitude ..offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service ..a saved heart is one that wants to serve ...we all minister

We are healed to help others, blessed to be a blessing, saved to serve ...not sit around and wait for heaven

Called to serve God ..your call to salvation included your call to service .... When you use your Gid given abilities to serve others your are fulfilling your call to service ...there is no small service ..no insignificant ministries ...it all matters

Commanded to serve God ..Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life ...service is the heart of the Christian life

Mother Teresa ... Holy living consists in doing a God's work with a smile ...we must act on what we know and practice what we believe ..impression without expression causes depression ..study without service leads to spiritual stagnation ..need to give out like Sea of Galilee ..not Dead Sea ..exercise our spiritual gifts

We are only fully alive when we are helping others ...if you insist on saving your life you will loose it.... What matters is not duration of your life, but donation of it ..not how long you lived, but how you lived

Day 28

It takes time

Notes

There are no short cuts to maturity ..God views our lives from and for eternity, so he is not in a hurry

You can only give to God as much as you understand at the moment ... Gradual process

Discipleship is the process of conforming to Christ ...the fullness of Christ ...Christlikeness is the destination, the journey lasts a lifetime  ..we awe obsessed with speed ..God wants strength and stability

Why does it take so long?

We are slow learners ..need to relearn ..Israel quickly forgot God's lessons ..little by little as Holy Kand was taken

We have a lot to unlearn ..hard work of removal and replacement ..take off old self

We are afraid to humbly face truth about ourselves ..prison if denial ..need to be humble and teachable

Growth is often painful and scary ..no growth without change, no change without fear/loss and no loss without pain

Takes time to develop ..there are no instant habits

Believe God is working in your life ...everything on earth has its own time and it's own season ..slow steady stream of water erodes the hardest rock

Keep a notebook of lessons learnt

Be patient with God and yourself ..Gid has a timetable ...80 years to prepare Moses

Mushrooms grow overnight ...great oaks takes hundreds of years ..great souls are grown through struggles and storms and seasons of suffering

Don't get discouraged ..a delay is not a denial from God

Please be patient, God is not finished with me yet ..even the snail got to the ark by persevering

Thoughts

God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Christ will come again Phil 1:6

Keep notes of spiritual growth...blog?

Day 27

Defeating temptation

There is always a way out ..God will never allow more on you than he puts within you

Refocus your attention ...blocking thoughts drive them deeper ..the more you fight a feeling the more it consumes and controls you ..turn your attention to something else ..the battle for sin is won and lost in your mind ..the more you think about something the more it takes control

Temptation captures your attention ..arouses your emotions ..then activates behaviour

Ignoring temptation is more effective than fighting it ..just hang up!

Keep your mind occupied with God's word and good thoughts ..manage your mind and your media intake ..be selective, don't allow trash in

Reveal your struggles to a Godly friend or support group ..don't repress it, confess it, don't conceal it, reveal it, revealing your feeling is the beginning of healing

Will power and personal resolutions aren't enough....humility is needed, not pride

Resist the devil ...put salvation on as your helmet and take the sword of the spirit

Helmet of salvation keeps our minds protected and word of God as a weapon ..Jesus always quoted scripture ..did not argue with Satan ..store truth in your heart ready to remember ..one verse a week for the rest of your life ..challenge 

Realise your vulnerability ..God at fooling ourselves ..never let down your guard ..it is easier to stay out of temptation than to get out of it

Notes

Bible verse a week .. A real challenge

Day 26

Growing through temptation

Every temptation is an opportunity to do good ..provides a choice ...every time you choose good over sin you grow the character of Christ.....love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control ...fruits of the spirit ...fruit matures and ripens slowly

Character development involves a choice ..taught love by being surrounded by unlovely people

Happiness depends on external circumstances, joy based on your relationship with God

You can't claim to be faithful if never had the opportunity to be unfaithful

Temptation 4 steps

 ...a desire (can be legitimate)...either sinful or fulfilled in the wrong way

... A doubt ...is it really wrong?

...deception ..you will get away with it, no one will know, will solve problem, only small sin, etc

...disobedience ...idea gives birth to behaviour

Overcoming temptation:

Refuse to be intimidated ..not demoralised by tempting thoughts, guilt, etc ...you never outgrow temptation ..it is a complement ..normal part of being human ..not a sin ..only when you act on it

Martin Luther ...you cannot keep birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them building a nest in your hair ...choose not to dwell or act on temptations

Recognise you pattern of temptation ..certain situations ..what trips you up ..avoid those circumstances 

Request God's help ...heaven has 24 hour emergency hotline ...microwave prayer ...he understands our weakness for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin

Temptations keep us dependent upon God

Day 25

Transformed by trouble

It is the fire of suffering that brings forth the gold of godliness ..Madame Guyon

God is behind every problem ...he uses circumstances to develop our character.... Your profound and intimate experiences of worship will likely be in our darkest days ..it is during suffering that we learn to pray our most authentic, heartfelt, honest-to-God prayers ... We learn things about God in suffering that we can't learn in any other way

Problems force us to look to God and depend on him instead of ourselves ...you will never know that a God is all you need until God is all you've got

Everything that happens to a child of God is father filtered ..he intends to use it for good ..has spiritual significance ..Romans 8:28-29 ..everything works together for good of those who love God ...God can bring good from the worst evil ...Calvery

Every problem is a character building opportunity ..refiner's fire

Vital to stay focused on God's plan, not the problem ..that is what Jesus did

Carrie ten Boom ...if you look to the world you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. But if you look at Christ you'll be at rest.

Pain is temporary, reward is eternal ...don't give in to short term thinking

Rejoice ..give thanks in all circumstances not for all circumstances ..God goes through the pain with us

Refuse to give up ..be patient and persistent ...character building is slow ...we can't short circuit the process .... Not comfort me .... But conform me prayers ...instead of why me? What am I to learn?

Day 24

Transformed by truth

The Spirit uses the word of God to make us like his son ..must fill our lives with the word .. I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread (Job) ...menu for spiritual strength and growth

Abide in God's word ...if you abide in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine ..... Must .....

Accept its authority ..standard for life

Assimilate its truth ...not just believe ...fill mind...let spirit transform me with it

Receive God' word ...listen and accept with an open, receptive attitude ...sower ... Closed mind (hard soil), superficial mind (shallow soil) and distracted mind (weedy soil)

Read the bible ..daily ... 30 min per day would be twice a year ..keeps you in range of a God's voice

Researching or studying ...ask questions and write down insights

Abide in God's word ..remembering it ..keep revising verses

Reflect .. Meditation ...focused thinking ..key to answered prayer and successful living

Must apply it's principals ..doers ..implement ..obey ..write an action step as result of reading .... This action step needs to be personal, practical and provable (deadline)

Thoughts

Must put aside time every day for bible study ...get disciplined on this ..keep notes ..set actions

Day 23

How we grow

Notes

God wants you to grow up ...many never do..stuck in perpetual spiritual infancy ..spiritual growth takes commitment and effort ..discipleship...you become what you are committed to

Half hearted commitment means drift, frustration and mediocrity ...or full commitment to worldly goals ...disappointment and bitterness

God's part and your part .. Need to make Christ like choices and depend on Holy Spirit to help you ...new ways of acting, new habits

Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose

You can't work for salvation ..a work out is exercising your body not getting it. Holy Spirit works in

Change your autopilot ..change the way you think ...every behaviour is motivated by a belief and actions by attitude ..be careful how you think, your life is shaped by your thoughts

Fighting against autopilot is stressful and can be done for short times, but it will go back to set course ..let God transform you by changing the way you think ..spiritual renewal of thoughts and attitudes ...the mental shift is repentance

Immature thoughts are selfish and self centred ..babies are selfish ..own needs only

Start thinking maturely ..focus on others ..real love ...far more than creeds and convictions ..our deeds must be consistent with our convictions....Christianity is relationships and lifestyle rather than philosophy and religion

Notes

It is a complete life rethink!

Day 22

Created to become like Christ

You were created to become like Christ ...in our image and likeness ..spiritual beings....we can think, reason, solve problems ..we are relational ..give and receive love ..moral consciousness ..Jesus was on a mission to restore our image that we have lost ..the image and likeness of God is Jesus ..the visible image of the invisible God

Christlikeness is about transforming your character, not your personality

Life is supposed to be be difficult ..it is how we grow ..life is not about you ..we are building our character for heaven

God's spirit works in you ...changing to be more like Christ is sanctification .....not produced by imitation, but by I habitation ..Christ lives in you we allow Christ to live through us

We must cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work ..obedience unlocks God's power ..God waits for us to act first ..move ahead in your weakness, fears and feelings ...let go of old ways of acting ..change the way we think ..renewing of our minds ..put on the character of Christ by developing new Godly habits

Your character is the sum of your habits ..need a new self

God uses his word, people and circumstances to mold us ..word is the truth, people are the support and circumstances the environment.... You need to be in relationship with other people ... It is about love

It is a long, slow process ..will take the rest of our lives

God is far more interested in what you are than in what you do ... We are human beings, not human doings

You must make a counter culture decision to focus on becoming more like Christ

Settling for personal fulfilment and emotional stability is narcissism not discipleship ...Jesus did not die so we can live comfortable well adjusted lives

Notes

I think for most people, including Christians this is asking more than they are willing to give

Day 21

Protecting your church

Notes

It is your job to protect the unity of your church ...most of all let love guide your life, for then the whole church will stay together in perfect harmony Col 3:14

Unity is the soul of fellowship ..destroy it and you rip the heart out of Christ's body

Focus on what we have in common...not on differences ......share same salvation, life, future ..these are the issues for focus, not personal differences ...God gave us our differences ..value and enjoy them ..God wants unity not uniformity

Division will happen if we focus on styles, methods, personalities, preferences, interpretations, etc

Be realistic in your expectations ...don't be discouraged by the gap between the real and the ideal ..longing for the ideal while criticising the real is immaturity ..but settling for real and not striving for ideal is complacency ...other believers will disappoint .... Not an excuse to stop fellowship with them

Reconciliation not running away is way to build fellowship ..immature to divorce your church

Bonhoeffer: he who loves his dream of community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter

Encourage rather than criticise ... A critical spirit is a costly vice ..time spent critically should be spent on unity

Refuse to listen to gossip ...people who gossip to you will gossip about you ...don't listen

Practice God's method of conflict resolution ...go to the person who hurt you ..if no solution...take witness ..treat like an unbeliever

Support your pastor and leaders ...honor those who serve us ..they need prayers, encouragement, appreciation and love

Many people are looking for love and a place to belong ...when a church is found that genuinely love and care for each other ..you would have to lock the doors to keep them away

Thoughts:

Try really hard not to criticise leadership and show more appreciation of their efforts

Pray for leadership

Day 20

Restoring broken relationships

Notes

God wants us to value relationships ..getting along with each other is a mark of spiritual maturity ...must be peacemakers ...the children of God ...very hard work ..it is not avoidance of conflict. ....not running from problems or pretending they don't exist ..that is cowardice

...not appeasement

Restoring relationships .........

Talk to God first ..pray...the other person might change ..you can't fulfill a need only God can provide

Take the initiative ...God expects us to make the first move ..abandon your offering and make peace first ..make it right before worship ...delay makes matters worse ....acting quickly reduces spiritual damage ...time and place important ...not rushed or tired

Sympathise with their feelings...listen...pay close attention LISTEN...feelings are not always true and logical ...... patience comes from wisdom ...absurd the anger ...as did Christ

Confess your part of the conflict ..accept responsibility for your mistakes ..take the log out of your own eye ...confess your part in the issue

Attack the problem not the person ...don't be consumed with fixing the blame ... Choose words wisely ...soft answer better than a sarcastic one ..you are never persuasive when you are abrasive 

Cooperate as much as possible...peace costs ...Pride, self-centredness  ... Compromise and show preference to their needs

Emphasise reconciliation not resolution ... Reconciliation focuses on the relationship, resolution on the problem.... The problem may loose significance

God wants unity not uniformity ...diamonds can look different from different angles ...we can walk arm in arm without seeing eye to eye ..reconciliation means bury the hatchet, not necessarily the issue

Notes

Not really fallen out with anyone, but good advice if I do ... Could be useful for work situations

Day 19

Cultivating community

Notes:

Community requires commitment ..need God's power and our effort to produce a loving Christian community

Takes honesty ..lovingly speak the truth ... An honest answer is a sign of true friendship ...need to care enough to confront and resolve underlying barriers ..in the end people appreciate frankness more than flattery ...talk as loving family members

Takes humility ...self importance, smugness and pride destroy fellowship ... Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less ...thinking more of others ..humble people focus on serving others

Takes courtesy ...respecting our differences ..considerate of other's feelings  ... Be patient with people who irritate us ..... EGR people extra grace required

Community has nothing to do with compatibility ..the basis should be our relationship with God

What are their histories ...how far have they come ... Don't downplay feelings of others

Takes confidentiality ...need safe environment ...accepted and trusting ...no gossip

Takes frequency ..regular contact ...need time for deep fellowship

Community is built on conviction nor convenience ...need to invest time

Thoughts:

...genuine fellowship must be rare!

Day 18

Experiencing life together

Notes:

Life is meant to be shared ...fellowship...not just about turning up at church ... Experiencing life together ...unselfish love, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting .... Small is better ...then everyone participates ... Jesus had only 12 ... Church is a ship, small groups the lifeboats

In real fellowship ..authenticity ..genuine heart to heart ..hurts, feelings, doubts, weakness, failure, help.... No room for masks ..need courage and humility ...only way to grow spiritually and emotionally 

Mutuality ...the art of giving and receiving ..reciprocal relationships

Sympathy ..entering in and sharing the pain of others ...satisfies need to be understood and have feelings validated. Self pity dries up sympathy for others

Fellowship has different levels .... Sharing ...serving ... Studying .....suffering ( carry each other's burdens)

Mercy ...fellowship is a place of grace ...mistakes are rubbed out ..forgiveness essential for fellowship

Forgiveness is letting go of the past ...trust is to do with future behaviour

Share each other's troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ .. Gal 6:2

Thoughts:

Need to join a cell group? Many relationships at church are acquaintances.

Day 17

A place to belong

Notes:

Called to belong, not just believe ..created for community, fashioned for fellowship, formed for family and none of us can fulfill God's purpose by ourselves

Relationship with Christ is personal, but God never intended it to be private

Membership ... Adding your name to a roll? No requirements, no expectations

Membership ... Vital organ of a living body ..Indispensable, interconnected part of the Body of Christ

You discover your role in life through your relationship with others

Will wither and die disconnected from the lifeblood of a local church. ... Spiritual decline ...don't need the church ..arrogant or ignorant? Christ gave his life for the church ... Many use the church, but don't love it

Local fellowship ... Church in the bible refers to local, visible congregation

Culture of independent individualism created many spiritual orphans .... Bunny believers ....without identity, accountability or commitment 

You need a church family ...identifies you as a genuine believer

Moves you out of self centred isolation ...a classroom for learning how to get along with God's family ...practice sympathetic love and being unselfish

Biblical fellowship ...commitment to each other as we are to Christ ..love as Jesus loves you

Helps develop spiritual muscle ..will never grow as passive spectator ...need participation

Commanded to pray, encourage, admonish, greet, serve, teach, accept, honorary, bear burdens, forgive, submit, devote ...biblical membership

Easier to be holy when no one around to frustrate your preferences ...that is untested holiness ..real maturity shows in relationships ...grow by learning from each other

Body of Christ needs you .. Your ministry ...develop and discover your gifts ...Christ promised to build his church, not your ministry

Share in Christ's mission ..church is the spiritual body ... God's instrument on earth

Will keep you from back sliding ...be involved in each other's lives ... Godly leaders ..Satan loves detached believers

It is all in the church ..... 5 greatest needs met ...

1 purpose for life

2 people to live with

3 principals to live by

4 profession to live out

5 power to live on

Church has 5 purposes

1 worship helps focus on God

2 fellowship helps meet life's problems

3 discipleship helps fortify faith

4 ministry helps find your talents

5 evangelism helps fulfill your mission

Difference between attender and member is commitment ..attenders are consumers, members are contributors ..attenders want benefits without responsibility

God wants you to love real people not ideal people

Christian life includes commitment to other Christians

Thoughts

How can I get more involved and give at church?

Day 16

What matters most

Notes:

Life is about love .. It runs counter to our self centred nature ..given a lifetime to learn it ...paticularly have to love others in God's family ...our greatest witness ...your love for each other will prove you are my disciples

Best use of life is love ..relationships are the priority ..bankrupt without love

10 commandments ...Al. About relationships ..4 re God and 6 with people ..love the Lord your God, love your neighbour as yourself

Busyness is the enemy of relationships

Love will last forever ..it is eternal ..love should be your legacy

Mother Teressa ...it's not what you do, but how much love you put into it that matters

Wisdom is knowing relationships is what life is about

We will be evaluated on our love ..the only thing that matters is faith expressing itself through love

Best expression of love is time ..importance of things measured by how much time you spend on it

Your time is your life ...love is spelt ...TIME ...how much we give of ourselves ..love demands focused attention ... Means giving up... Yielding my preferences ...comfort ...goals ... Security ...money ...energy..or time

The best time to love is now

Thoughts

Work seems to monopolize my life ... Can I give more? Can I squeeze more time and energy from my life? I just keep thinking ... Will do more for others when I don't have to provide for the family? Or is bringing up the family and providing for them the right priority now?

Day 15

Formed for God's family

God wants a family ..he wanted to have many children to share in his glory Heb 2:10 .. He allows us to be called his children John 3:1

Children of God through faith ... Rich and glorious inheritance

Be with God forever, be like Christ, freed from pain,death,suffering, positions of service, share Christ's glory

Retirement is a short term goal, should be living in the light of eternity!

Baptism ..declares your faith, symbolises death to old life and new life on God's family .. A physical picture of a spiritual truth

Anyone who does the will of my father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother .. Honour and privilege

Thoughts

Can be hard to treat all Christians as your family .. A challenge

Day 14

When God seems distant 

Notes:

God is real no matter how you feel .. Deepest level of worship is thanking God in spite of pain, thanking during a trial or suffering, loving when distant

Friendships often tested by separation and silence ... God has not promised that you will always feel his presence ...I will never leave you ... A test of faith ..continue to love, trust, obey and worship

We often seek an experience of God rTher than seeking him ..seek a feeling ..need to wean off these dependencies ...more concerned about whether you trust rather than feel his presence

Tell God how you feel ... David was honest with God

Focus on God and his unchanging nature V Raymond Edman ... Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light

Trust God to keep his promises ... Rely on these not on emotions ... But still I trust in him ..Job

Remember what God has already done for you Christ suffered and died for us, that alone is enough

Thoughts

Job and David are so inspirational here, they trusted despite circumstances, holding on to God's promises and trusting him

Day 13

Worship that pleases God

Notes:

God does not want part of your life ...all of your soul, mind and strength ... Full devotion ... Not bits of your life

God is pleased when our worship is accurate ... We cannot create our own comfortable or politically correct image of God ... And worship it

True worshipers will worship in spirit ... Our spirit ... Worship is our spirit responding to God's spirit

Heartless praise is worthless ..the Lord looks at the heart ..engages our emotions ... Does not want showmanship, phoniness or pretence ... Honest real love ... God pleasing worship is deeply emotional and doctrinal

Real worship is when our spirit responds to God ... Not music tone, sentimentality, introspective songs that focus on our feelings

Gary Thomas ...scared pathways ... 9 ways people draw near to God.... We need to be authentic ..God wants people who are simply and honestly themselves in worship

God is pleased when our worship is thoughtful ..love the Lord your God with all your mind ..if worship is mindless it is meaningless ..engage your mind

Be specific not general what are you praising ...thanking for?

God is pleased when our worship is practical .... Sacrifices of worship, thanksgiving, praise, humility, repentance, offerings, prayer, serving others, sharing with those in need ...worship costs our self centeredness

David ... I will not offer to the Lord sacrifices that have cost me nothing ...when you get out of bed to worship when you are tired, when you help others when you are worn out, you are offering worship 

Notes:

Helpful to see worship in different ways ... God wants sacrifice and practical, thought out worship .. Not going through the motions and warm fuzzy songs and limp prayers.

Day 12

Developing you friendship with God

Notes:

You are as close to God as you choose to be

Be honest ... God does not expect perfection ... Wants frankness .. Many argued Abraham, David, Job, Moses, etc

God defended Job for being honest ...

 Honesty is important  .. What appears to be audacity, God sees as authenticity .. Wants true feelings, not what we ought to feel and say

Bitterness is a barrier to God .... Why did he allow this ...... God acts in our best interests

Psalms ... Worship manual full of ranting, raving, doubts, fears, resentments, passions, thanksgiving, praise and statements of faith .. David ... I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles ... Expressing doubt can be first step to intimacy 

Choose to obey God in faith .. Every time you trust God's wisdom, you deepen your friendship

Friends in a court ... Special privileges, but obey commands ..out of love and trust

We can be challenged to do great things for God, but God is more pleased with small things of loving obedience .. Unnoticed by others ..simple acts of prayer, praise, offerings .. Jesus did 30 years of living obediently!

Choose to value what God values .. Friends care about what is important to the other, grieves and rejoices

Desire friendship more than anything else ... David had passion ..Jacob wrestled with God .... God wants passion

You are as close to God as you choose to be ...in Ephesus they had left their first love ... Was duty not love that motivated them

CS Lwis ...pain is God's megaphone .. Problems are not punishments ..wake up calls from a loving God .. Not mad at you, but mad about you

Thoughts:

Still got to get my head around suffering and a loving God ... Is it all for my own good? Perhaps I need to wrestle and question God?p

Day 11

Becoming best friends with God

Notes:

God yearns to be our friend .. As it was in the beginning ...intimate friendship with God ... No rituals or religion ... A loving relationship

Jesus ... I gave called you friends ... Close and trusted relationship ... How?

 ... Does not want an appointment in your schedule ... Included in every action, thought, conversation, problem ... Continuous, open ended conversation ... Praying without ceasing ... Everything you do can be spending time with God

Brother Lawrence practicing the presence of God .. Changing your attitude to what you do .. A skill and a habit ..must train your mind to remember God ... A continual awareness of the reality that God is always present

Continual meditation ... Simply focused thinking ...like worry, you think about it over and over

Prayer lets you speak to God and meditation lets God speak to you

Thoughts:

Get the book Brother Lawrence wrote

Try and work on constant prayer

Day 10

The heart of worship

The heart of worship is surrender .. A natural response to God's amazing love .. Not from fear or duty, but from love ... It is true worship ....giving yourself completely to God ... Offering yourself to God is what worship is all about

The act of surrender has many names ..... Consecration, making Jesus Lord, taking up your cross, dying to self, yielding to the spirit ... Needs to be all

3 barriers ... Fear, pride and confusion

Can I trust God? ... Love casts out all fear .. The more you realise how much God loves you the easier surrender becomes

... Jesus on the cross ... I'd rather die than live without you ... Free will surrender(offering) is what he wants

Admitting our limitations ... Pride ..the desire to have control is cause of so much stress in our lives! ... We accept our humanity intellectually, but not emotionally

Surrendering ... Not passive resignation, fatalism, accepting of status quo ...not giving up rational thinking .. Not repressing your personality 

CS Lewis: the more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become

Surrendering is obeying even if it does not make sense ... Fully surrendered life is trust

You are surrendered when you don't react to criticism or rush to defend yourself, it shows in your relationships .. You don't edge others out, don't demand your rights, you are not self serving

In the garden ... If it fulfills your purpose, that's what I want too

Blessings of surrender .. Peace, freedom, power of God in your life

William Booth .. The greatness of a man's power is in the measure of his surrender

The best way to live ... We all surrender to something ... Money, resentment, pride, lusts, ego ... We are designed to worship God .. Not idols .. Wisest moments are when you say yes to God ..you can't fulfill God's purposes while focusing on your own plans ... Nothing under Gpd's control can be out of control

There is a moment of surrender, but also daily practice of surrender... Problem of a living sacrifice is that it can crawl off the alter!

Surrender will often mean doing the opposite of what you feel like doing!

Thoughts:

More challenge ... Need God's spirit to guide and support with this surrendering