Part 2
Our Care group is going through a study right now that is called “The Tangible Kingdom Primer.” The Jonah study and the Tangible Kingdom study have complimented each other so well. Both studies talk about personal and worldly resistance when taking hard steps in obedience, about unexpected opportunities that are really Divine interventions and the love of God that is for all. On a personal level, both studies challenge me to be willing to listen and follow through with what I am hearing. They speak of the need to abandon those parts of my selfish nature that inhibit my willingness to follow God.
The focus of the TK study in a nutshell is to build lifelong habits of being the hands and feet of Jesus in our neighbourhoods, in our community. We have been challenged to take missional steps – to do things as small as meeting someone across the street we don't know or going out to “check the mail” when your neighbour is outside to start up a conversation. Taking these small steps on a daily basis changes your world. Following through with this challenge has caused me to be looking for opportunities and to not see them as interruptions. It is softening my heart towards others and creating a willingness obey in the moment.
The authors of the TK study, Hugh Halter and Matt Smay say that one of purposes for the primer “is to be a field guide for starting mission together.”
In the previous Mission Post I shared the passage from Isaiah that I have been working through.
The New Testament echo to this is found in Matthew 25: 34b – 40
“Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
The the righteous will answer him,
“Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invited you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?”
The King will reply,
' I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers, you did for me.'
According to this passage, following the call of God won't be easy. If it were everyone would receive their inheritance. It means seeking God and His purposes – to know and see and hear the needs around us. The Word does show however, that the reward is great both for our earthly time and humanity and for eternity.
In a book called “Radical” by David Platt, he says there is risk involved in non-discipleship. If we don't respond to Jesus with our lives the world will suffer and we will not experience the significance of knowing and living for the only person who can fulfil our deepest longings; our Creator God.
In talking about the parable from Matthew 13:44-46 he says,
“Yes, you are abandoning everything you have, but you are also gaining more than you could have in any other way. So with joy— with joy!—you sell it all, you abandon it all. Why? Because you have found something worth losing everything else for.”
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
One Happy Birthday Boy!
This here is one very happy seven year old. Our boy turned 7 this past week. He is such a gift to our family. We love him so much.
Buddy, we love you more than words can say. We love all the noises you make with your mouth as you play. We love the songs that you sing anywhere and everywhere and louder than anything else that is going on. Your ability to sing over various instruments and household machines is impressive. You surely will be able to study in a dorm room or study hall someday. We love your carefully chosen outfits for each day. I 'm sure that guys don't call them outfits...We love your laughter. We love your sense of humour and love that you laugh so easily and so hard. Your full body belly laugh is so contagious. We love how you love your friends. We love your easy going personality.
I pray that you will display the name of Jesus in your life.
"The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace."
Numbers 6:24-26
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
More Than a Study - Part 1
Part 1
Over the next few posts I will be hashing out some thoughts on being missional. I have divided it into a few parts because my thoughts are too long to put them all in one post.
At our Wednesday night Bible Study at church we have been studying the life of Jonah. We have been challenged to look at the literal Nineveh as well as reflect on our own Nineveh's both individually and corporately. Nineveh can be defined as a “place of hopelessness – a place where people are unloved, forgotten, and seemingly unreachable.” (Shirer)
God has created us in His own image. I believe that as a result we are most fulfilled when we serve Him wholeheartedly. Like Jonah, we can be really patriotic to our church community or individual lifestyle and feel gypped when we are asked to give it up to go to the hopeless places at cost to ourselves. However, I believe that God's command to love Him with our heart, soul, mind and strength is something we are called and equipped by God to do (Hebrews 13:20-21). I'm not saying it is easy or even natural but rather a choice that will meet our highest need – to love God and give Him glory.
I am memorizing the following passage right now from Isaiah;
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen;
to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Isaiah 58:6 – 8
Just prior to this portion the passage speaks to the nation of Israel and their selfish faith. They talk like they are enthusiastic followers of God but in reality they are just doing their own thing under a religious guise. God is totally unimpressed with their piety.
In the rest of the chapter, the prophet shows that the kind of compassion spoken of in verses 6 – 8 when practised, restores the community and brings us to delight in the Lord (v 14).
One commentary puts it this way:
So here are my questions for contemplation. What would God say to our church today? Are we self-serving or do we practise compassion to those in need in our communities and in our city. Does our community know that our church serves and worships a great big God who specializes in healing and restoration. How do they see it by our lives?
This blog hasn't typically been very interactive and this may not be the time or place but I would love to hear your responses to this call to missional living either here on the blog or in person. Tell me what your care group is doing to be missional. Where are the hopeless places in our city? How can we show God's love in those areas? How are our churches already doing this? Can we contribute more in these areas? How can these places be better because we are being obedient to God's call in our lives?
Over the next few posts I will be hashing out some thoughts on being missional. I have divided it into a few parts because my thoughts are too long to put them all in one post.
At our Wednesday night Bible Study at church we have been studying the life of Jonah. We have been challenged to look at the literal Nineveh as well as reflect on our own Nineveh's both individually and corporately. Nineveh can be defined as a “place of hopelessness – a place where people are unloved, forgotten, and seemingly unreachable.” (Shirer)
God has created us in His own image. I believe that as a result we are most fulfilled when we serve Him wholeheartedly. Like Jonah, we can be really patriotic to our church community or individual lifestyle and feel gypped when we are asked to give it up to go to the hopeless places at cost to ourselves. However, I believe that God's command to love Him with our heart, soul, mind and strength is something we are called and equipped by God to do (Hebrews 13:20-21). I'm not saying it is easy or even natural but rather a choice that will meet our highest need – to love God and give Him glory.
I am memorizing the following passage right now from Isaiah;
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen;
to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Isaiah 58:6 – 8
Just prior to this portion the passage speaks to the nation of Israel and their selfish faith. They talk like they are enthusiastic followers of God but in reality they are just doing their own thing under a religious guise. God is totally unimpressed with their piety.
In the rest of the chapter, the prophet shows that the kind of compassion spoken of in verses 6 – 8 when practised, restores the community and brings us to delight in the Lord (v 14).
One commentary puts it this way:
“Even as they live true to the image of God in their day-to-day life by imitating God's acts of loving-kindness and giving expression to authentic community through mutual caring, God's people celebrate the origin of all life in life's source through worship, by honouring God in a special way on the Sabbath. The inseparability of worship from the life of justice and compassion thus is reaffirmed and held up as the only reliable foundation...” (Paul D Hanson, Interpretation commentary)
So here are my questions for contemplation. What would God say to our church today? Are we self-serving or do we practise compassion to those in need in our communities and in our city. Does our community know that our church serves and worships a great big God who specializes in healing and restoration. How do they see it by our lives?
This blog hasn't typically been very interactive and this may not be the time or place but I would love to hear your responses to this call to missional living either here on the blog or in person. Tell me what your care group is doing to be missional. Where are the hopeless places in our city? How can we show God's love in those areas? How are our churches already doing this? Can we contribute more in these areas? How can these places be better because we are being obedient to God's call in our lives?
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Thank You God
This amazing gift of warm weather has really elevated my state of thankfulness over the past weeks. I love warmth and I love sunshine. (I am my father's daughter.) There are so many small things that have recently brought a smile to my face.
Seeing motorbikes, convertibles with their tops down, flowers still blooming, zucchini still producing, the dog poking his head out of the window in our moving vehicle, having a freezie as a refreshing snack in Fall, evening fires and smores, long walks wearing t-shirts and shorts, sitting outside to read, having to throw off my duvet at night, enjoying a thanksgiving picnic and wearing flip flops! The list could go on and on. God is good in so many ways.
Last night I was reading "Life Together" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Something I have wanted to do since he was quoted in the Psalms of Ascents Bible Study last Fall. Here is a quote that got me thinking on my level of thankfulness on the tail end of Thanksgiving weekend.
Bonhoeffer also said, "God is the God of truth, not the God of emotions."
I had to think on this for a minute because God has created us with emotions and He himself shows His understanding to us by His display of emotions in the Bible. However, what the author intends is that we know that we cannot be run by our emotions. Reacting and living by our emotions will cause us to run from God every time He calls us to something outside our comforts and dreams. We need to base our life on Truth. It is only since I have started believing what God's word says as truth that I can truly overcome the daily struggles I have. Often struggles of response and fears.
I am deeply thankful to God for His ways – that they are not our ways.
I am thankful that God is my salvation. He has saved my life and He continues to deliver me daily from unbelief, lack of self control, lack of love...
I am thankful for His abounding love which is greater than all I can imagine and greater than my condemning heart.
Thank you God that you are a God of Truth.
Seeing motorbikes, convertibles with their tops down, flowers still blooming, zucchini still producing, the dog poking his head out of the window in our moving vehicle, having a freezie as a refreshing snack in Fall, evening fires and smores, long walks wearing t-shirts and shorts, sitting outside to read, having to throw off my duvet at night, enjoying a thanksgiving picnic and wearing flip flops! The list could go on and on. God is good in so many ways.
Last night I was reading "Life Together" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Something I have wanted to do since he was quoted in the Psalms of Ascents Bible Study last Fall. Here is a quote that got me thinking on my level of thankfulness on the tail end of Thanksgiving weekend.
Bonhoeffer also said, "God is the God of truth, not the God of emotions."
I had to think on this for a minute because God has created us with emotions and He himself shows His understanding to us by His display of emotions in the Bible. However, what the author intends is that we know that we cannot be run by our emotions. Reacting and living by our emotions will cause us to run from God every time He calls us to something outside our comforts and dreams. We need to base our life on Truth. It is only since I have started believing what God's word says as truth that I can truly overcome the daily struggles I have. Often struggles of response and fears.
I am deeply thankful to God for His ways – that they are not our ways.
I am thankful that God is my salvation. He has saved my life and He continues to deliver me daily from unbelief, lack of self control, lack of love...
I am thankful for His abounding love which is greater than all I can imagine and greater than my condemning heart.
Thank you God that you are a God of Truth.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
You Remind Me of...
I was on my second day of a 2 day subbing job when a student came up to me and curiously asked if I was related to "so & so". I said, "well yes, she is my cousin!"
She smiled a huge smile and said, "I thought so because during the first day of subbing I kept thinking that I knew that voice and that you looked so familiar. When I went home I said to my Mom that the sub reminded me of "so & so! Now, I finally got up the courage to ask."
This conversation made me smile and think about the previous weekend where I met up with my Uncle who was visiting from Ontario. I haven't seen him in quite a while. He was in Winnipeg to perform at an event with my Mom and step Dad. I grew up loving this Uncle dearly. His daughter and I were good friends and played together well. We exchanged sleepover visits and we even did some holidaying together. This past weekend I felt like a grown up with a child like affection for him. I just wanted to be near him and talk to him and find out how he and his family were doing. I think I followed him around like a magnet!
When I think of different sides of my family, each name carries with it certain characteristics. Maybe you have found the same to be true? Some we want to be identified with- like with my cousin, and some we work hard at changing.
We are image bearers. God made us that way - in His image. He has given us the choice to bear that image or not. As well, God has given us the power through the Holy Spirit to display God in our lives (2 Cor. 4:7).
Over the years I have become more and more convinced that I won't waste any time working at being intentional about the image that I want to bear personally as well as the image I want our family to bear. There is far too much at stake not to be intentional - namely my selfish nature's tendency to take over.
There is a kids song with a chorus that has lyrics that resonate with the sentiment of the last statement;
Someone tell me, tell me why I -
Do what I do when I don't want to do it?
Say what I say when i don't want to say it?
Feel what I feel when I don't want to feel it?
Somebody tell me, somebody tell me...
The song goes on to say;
In everything I do
In everything I say
I wanna give you the latitude
To show me the way
...really cute song.
Colossians 3 speaks well of our need to replace our earthly nature with a renewed Christlike self. Here are some snippets from the NIV. Look it up for the full impact.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above...Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things...Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature...You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things a these...Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator...Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
It amazes me that we have influence over family members and friends whether we want to or not. I pray that our families will be marked with the image of our creator as we strive to know and follow hard after Him.
She smiled a huge smile and said, "I thought so because during the first day of subbing I kept thinking that I knew that voice and that you looked so familiar. When I went home I said to my Mom that the sub reminded me of "so & so! Now, I finally got up the courage to ask."
This conversation made me smile and think about the previous weekend where I met up with my Uncle who was visiting from Ontario. I haven't seen him in quite a while. He was in Winnipeg to perform at an event with my Mom and step Dad. I grew up loving this Uncle dearly. His daughter and I were good friends and played together well. We exchanged sleepover visits and we even did some holidaying together. This past weekend I felt like a grown up with a child like affection for him. I just wanted to be near him and talk to him and find out how he and his family were doing. I think I followed him around like a magnet!
When I think of different sides of my family, each name carries with it certain characteristics. Maybe you have found the same to be true? Some we want to be identified with- like with my cousin, and some we work hard at changing.
We are image bearers. God made us that way - in His image. He has given us the choice to bear that image or not. As well, God has given us the power through the Holy Spirit to display God in our lives (2 Cor. 4:7).
Over the years I have become more and more convinced that I won't waste any time working at being intentional about the image that I want to bear personally as well as the image I want our family to bear. There is far too much at stake not to be intentional - namely my selfish nature's tendency to take over.
There is a kids song with a chorus that has lyrics that resonate with the sentiment of the last statement;
Someone tell me, tell me why I -
Do what I do when I don't want to do it?
Say what I say when i don't want to say it?
Feel what I feel when I don't want to feel it?
Somebody tell me, somebody tell me...
The song goes on to say;
In everything I do
In everything I say
I wanna give you the latitude
To show me the way
...really cute song.
Colossians 3 speaks well of our need to replace our earthly nature with a renewed Christlike self. Here are some snippets from the NIV. Look it up for the full impact.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above...Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things...Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature...You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things a these...Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator...Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
It amazes me that we have influence over family members and friends whether we want to or not. I pray that our families will be marked with the image of our creator as we strive to know and follow hard after Him.
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