LIFE WORDS learner guide, p. 76: the "inestimable value of the intangible asset of the truth of God's Word"
What would you consider the top five things that keep people from spending time alone with God?
What resources do you/believers you know use to meditate upon/study God's Word?
Psalm 119:11-16
--storing up God's instructions so that they might determine behavior
--What can meditation accomplish in a believer's life?
--Share specific verses you memorized that have been especially encouraging to you.
--How can you consistently declare "all the judgments of [God's] mouth (v. 13), "meditate [on God's] precepts," and "respect [God's] ways" (v. 15) without having a Bible in front of you all day long?
--What needs to happen in your life for you to develop the same kind of attitude and commitment the psalmist had toward focusing on God's Word?
--Biblical meditation in the Psalms results in faithful performance or application of the principles learned.
--Why should Christians treasure and value Scriptures?
--reflecting on divine truth makes it increasingly part of my thinking and overall perspective on life...."transformed by the renewing of [our minds]:
--meditate so that we can provide milk/spiritual nourishment for someone else
--Rather than emptying our mind, we are to FILL them with the truth of God.
Mark 1:35-39
--Describe your time alone with God.
--Prayer and meditation will require us to say no even to GOOD things in order to focus upon the BEST thing.
--Identify a place where you do or could begin to spend regular time alone with God in prayer.
Psalm 1:1-3
--Our lives will increasingly take on and reflect God's character.
--ways believers can
(1) delight in God's Law
(2) meditate on God's revealed truth continually
(3) take in spiritual nourishment available to us
--Whom do you know whose life demonstrates the truth of these verses?
--What do you think the psalmist meant by "whatsoever he doeth shall prosper?
--What is the one thing that most often and most effectively distracts you from God's Word?
--Francis Cosgrove of The Navigators: "'Our spiritual development is revealed by how we pray.'"
--If someone discovered for whom and what you pray and upon what verses you meditate, what would he/she learn about you?
--"First I fell in love with my teacher; then I fell in love with my teacher's Bible; then I fell in love with my teacher's Lord."
--Will people fall in love with the LORD and His Word by following your example?
--Say no to good things in order to focus on the best. Develop/maintain important habits.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
732
Beth Moore, Believing God: Experiencing a Fresh Explosion of Faith
I received the capacity to exercise action-oriented faith when I received the Holy Spirit (25).
I have all I need--I must step out in what I have (26).
The more I feed upon God's faithfulness, the "fatter of faith" I will become (27).
I am never wise to judge others for a weakness of faith because I have no idea what challenges I have ahead (36).
"Faith is complete engagement with God: holding on to God and His promises because we know He's holding on to us" (41).
"God was willing to get His hands dusty" (42).
"God does not form (yatsar) clean hears in use with the existing materials of our righteous acts or self-disciplines" (43).
Annie Dillard as quoted in Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
"'How we live our days is... how we live our lives'" (165).
"'Am I loving my neighbor and my God by living where I live, by driving what I drive, by talking how I talk?'" (166)
Oswald Chambers as quoted in Chan
"'Never make a principle [law] out of your experience; let God be as original with other people as He is with you.'" Chan adds, "' Be careful not to turn others' lives into the mold for your own.' Allow God to be as creative with you as He is with each of us" (167)
20 cheese graters= not helpful for eating soup (168).
How I live my life as a believer is a microcosm of the life of the church (172). Is my life today what I want The Church to be????
I received the capacity to exercise action-oriented faith when I received the Holy Spirit (25).
I have all I need--I must step out in what I have (26).
The more I feed upon God's faithfulness, the "fatter of faith" I will become (27).
I am never wise to judge others for a weakness of faith because I have no idea what challenges I have ahead (36).
"Faith is complete engagement with God: holding on to God and His promises because we know He's holding on to us" (41).
"God was willing to get His hands dusty" (42).
"God does not form (yatsar) clean hears in use with the existing materials of our righteous acts or self-disciplines" (43).
Annie Dillard as quoted in Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
"'How we live our days is... how we live our lives'" (165).
"'Am I loving my neighbor and my God by living where I live, by driving what I drive, by talking how I talk?'" (166)
Oswald Chambers as quoted in Chan
"'Never make a principle [law] out of your experience; let God be as original with other people as He is with you.'" Chan adds, "' Be careful not to turn others' lives into the mold for your own.' Allow God to be as creative with you as He is with each of us" (167)
20 cheese graters= not helpful for eating soup (168).
How I live my life as a believer is a microcosm of the life of the church (172). Is my life today what I want The Church to be????
Monday, January 24, 2011
731
Beth Moore, Believing God: Experiencing a Fresh Explosion of Faith
"... if He can raise the dead, He can surely enliven the lazy! We have been called to a present-active-participle walk of faith, not a park 'n' ride" (18).
He says I am forgiven; that I am beautiful to Him; that He has a purpose for my life; that I am a new woman, a virgin, no less; that I no longer have to carry old baggage or turn to old comforts; that Christ Jesus took on my unrighteousness so that I can be the righteousness of God in Him; that His all-surpassing power is within my jar of clay (22).
When I am yielded to Holy Spirit's authority, His personality fills me and eclipses my own. When I'm not yielded, I grieve Him and operate from my carnal nature (25).
"... if He can raise the dead, He can surely enliven the lazy! We have been called to a present-active-participle walk of faith, not a park 'n' ride" (18).
He says I am forgiven; that I am beautiful to Him; that He has a purpose for my life; that I am a new woman, a virgin, no less; that I no longer have to carry old baggage or turn to old comforts; that Christ Jesus took on my unrighteousness so that I can be the righteousness of God in Him; that His all-surpassing power is within my jar of clay (22).
When I am yielded to Holy Spirit's authority, His personality fills me and eclipses my own. When I'm not yielded, I grieve Him and operate from my carnal nature (25).
Saturday, January 22, 2011
730
Romans 4:7-8 (NCV)
"God blesses people whose sins are forgiven and whose evil deeds are forgotten.... whose since are erased from His book."
Message
"Fortunate those whose crimes are carted off, whose sins re wiped clean from the slate. Fortunate the person against whom the LORD does not keep score."
based on Message, Romans 4: It's a "God-story, not an Abraham-story." (It's not a Carol-story.)
"Abraham entered into what God was doing for him...."
"...an act of God Abraham embraced with his whole life...."
contract vs. covenant
Beth Moore, Believing God: Experiencing a Fresh Explosion of faith
God willingly interjects strength into the lives of those "caught in the act of believing."
"Pray for a heart and a mind to diligently seek Him. Then immediately begin walking in faith as one who already has what she has asked" (15).
"God blesses people whose sins are forgiven and whose evil deeds are forgotten.... whose since are erased from His book."
Message
"Fortunate those whose crimes are carted off, whose sins re wiped clean from the slate. Fortunate the person against whom the LORD does not keep score."
based on Message, Romans 4: It's a "God-story, not an Abraham-story." (It's not a Carol-story.)
"Abraham entered into what God was doing for him...."
"...an act of God Abraham embraced with his whole life...."
contract vs. covenant
Beth Moore, Believing God: Experiencing a Fresh Explosion of faith
God willingly interjects strength into the lives of those "caught in the act of believing."
"Pray for a heart and a mind to diligently seek Him. Then immediately begin walking in faith as one who already has what she has asked" (15).
Friday, January 21, 2011
729
Beth Moore: Believing God: Experiencing a Fresh Explosion of Faith
"... we see so little primarily because we believe Him for so little."
Pray that "God will perform a miracle of His choosing in every life during this journey" (7).
from DVD 1: Am I a conqueror? living in defeat? living in mediocrity?
--difference between believing IN God and BELIEVING GOD--
Unbelief is the # 1 hindrance to my entering my promised land: "My Bride is paralyzed by unbelief."
"Stop whinin' and wishin' and start believin' and receivin'."
Make Joshua 3:5 a reality in my life: "... the LORD will do wonders among you."
"This is about hiking."
"God is calling [me] to leave the passive life bred by a past-tense view of faith to participate in 'be believing'" (11).
"... we see so little primarily because we believe Him for so little."
Pray that "God will perform a miracle of His choosing in every life during this journey" (7).
from DVD 1: Am I a conqueror? living in defeat? living in mediocrity?
--difference between believing IN God and BELIEVING GOD--
Unbelief is the # 1 hindrance to my entering my promised land: "My Bride is paralyzed by unbelief."
"Stop whinin' and wishin' and start believin' and receivin'."
Make Joshua 3:5 a reality in my life: "... the LORD will do wonders among you."
"This is about hiking."
"God is calling [me] to leave the passive life bred by a past-tense view of faith to participate in 'be believing'" (11).
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
728
Romans 4:8/Psalm 32:2
"Happy is the person whom the LORD does not consider guilty."
Tozer as quoted in Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
"I am ashamed of my lack of desire....I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still.... Begin in mercy a new work of love within me" (99).
Piper as quoted in Chan
Could I be satisfied with Heaven if Christ were not there? (101)
When I am loving, I can't sin.
Most of us feel we have either to buy God's love (pay Him back) or prove it (102).
Think of as Christ each person with whom I come into contact (118).
What am I doing right now that requires faith? "... unafraid to put ourselves in[to] situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through" (124).
"Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back.... [they] care more about God's Kingdom coming... than [about] their own lives being shielded from pain or distress (132-133).
"Happy is the person whom the LORD does not consider guilty."
Tozer as quoted in Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
"I am ashamed of my lack of desire....I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still.... Begin in mercy a new work of love within me" (99).
Piper as quoted in Chan
Could I be satisfied with Heaven if Christ were not there? (101)
When I am loving, I can't sin.
Most of us feel we have either to buy God's love (pay Him back) or prove it (102).
Think of as Christ each person with whom I come into contact (118).
What am I doing right now that requires faith? "... unafraid to put ourselves in[to] situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through" (124).
"Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back.... [they] care more about God's Kingdom coming... than [about] their own lives being shielded from pain or distress (132-133).
Monday, January 17, 2011
727
Romans 4:7-8 from Ps. 32:1-2, New Living Translation
"'Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose sin is no longer counted against them by the LORD.'"
Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
"Do not assume you are good soil."
Chan believes most American churchgoers are thorny soil.
"A relationship with God simply cannot grow when money, sins, activities, favorite sports teams, addictions, or commitments are piled on top of it."
David Goetz, as quoted in Chan: "'Too much of the good life ends up being toxic, deforming us spiritually'" (67).
"... the American church is a difficult place to fit in if you want to live out New Testament Christianity.... Taking the words of Christ literally and seriously is rarely considered" (68).
See "Lukewarm People vs. the Word, 68-81.
C. S. Lewis as quoted in Chan: "'If you read history you will find that Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this'" (75).
The lives of the lukewarm "... wouldn't look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God" (76).
"... a lukewarm Christian is an oxymoron" (83-84).
Tim Kizziar as quoted in Chan: "'Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at thing sin life that don't really matter'" (93).
Nothing I do "... in this life will ever matter, unless it is about loving God and loving the people He has made" (97).
"'Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose sin is no longer counted against them by the LORD.'"
Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
"Do not assume you are good soil."
Chan believes most American churchgoers are thorny soil.
"A relationship with God simply cannot grow when money, sins, activities, favorite sports teams, addictions, or commitments are piled on top of it."
David Goetz, as quoted in Chan: "'Too much of the good life ends up being toxic, deforming us spiritually'" (67).
"... the American church is a difficult place to fit in if you want to live out New Testament Christianity.... Taking the words of Christ literally and seriously is rarely considered" (68).
See "Lukewarm People vs. the Word, 68-81.
C. S. Lewis as quoted in Chan: "'If you read history you will find that Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this'" (75).
The lives of the lukewarm "... wouldn't look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God" (76).
"... a lukewarm Christian is an oxymoron" (83-84).
Tim Kizziar as quoted in Chan: "'Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at thing sin life that don't really matter'" (93).
Nothing I do "... in this life will ever matter, unless it is about loving God and loving the people He has made" (97).
Friday, January 14, 2011
726
Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
Stress reeks of arrogance (42).
Psalm 73:17
"... it was oppressive to me til I entered the sanctuary of God."
A. W. Tozer as quoted in Chan: "'A man by his sin may waste himself, which is to waste that which on earth is most like God. This is man's greatest tragedy and God's heaviest grief'" (50).
"I tried hard not to annoy God with my sin or upset Him with my little problems. I had no aspiration of being wanted by God. I was just happy not to be hated or hurt by Him" (54).
"... when we love God, we naturally run to Him--frequently and zealously. Jesus didn't command that we have a regular time with Him each day. Rather, He tells us to 'love the Lord your God with all your heart....' The results are intimate prayer and study of His Word. Our motivation changes from guilt to love" (57).
"God doesn't need us but still wants us[;] we desperately need God but don't really want Him most of the time" (61). "... we wonder, indifferently, how much we have to do for Him to get by" (61).
"Are we in love with God or just His stuff?" (63)
Stress reeks of arrogance (42).
Psalm 73:17
"... it was oppressive to me til I entered the sanctuary of God."
A. W. Tozer as quoted in Chan: "'A man by his sin may waste himself, which is to waste that which on earth is most like God. This is man's greatest tragedy and God's heaviest grief'" (50).
"I tried hard not to annoy God with my sin or upset Him with my little problems. I had no aspiration of being wanted by God. I was just happy not to be hated or hurt by Him" (54).
"... when we love God, we naturally run to Him--frequently and zealously. Jesus didn't command that we have a regular time with Him each day. Rather, He tells us to 'love the Lord your God with all your heart....' The results are intimate prayer and study of His Word. Our motivation changes from guilt to love" (57).
"God doesn't need us but still wants us[;] we desperately need God but don't really want Him most of the time" (61). "... we wonder, indifferently, how much we have to do for Him to get by" (61).
"Are we in love with God or just His stuff?" (63)
Thursday, January 13, 2011
725
Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
"The wise man comes to God without saying a word and stands in awe of Him" (25)
R. C. Sproul as quoted in Chan: "'Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God" (26).
"spiritual amnesia"
A. W. Tozer as quoted in Chan: "'... the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like" (30).
We "worship a God we cannot exaggerate" (31).
I was created for God; I live as though He were created for me (33).
Romans 4:11--parallel between circumcision and baptism?
v. 17, NAS: God "calls into being that which does not exist."
Jesus' resurrection is my justification, v. 25
"The wise man comes to God without saying a word and stands in awe of Him" (25)
R. C. Sproul as quoted in Chan: "'Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God" (26).
"spiritual amnesia"
A. W. Tozer as quoted in Chan: "'... the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like" (30).
We "worship a God we cannot exaggerate" (31).
I was created for God; I live as though He were created for me (33).
Romans 4:11--parallel between circumcision and baptism?
v. 17, NAS: God "calls into being that which does not exist."
Jesus' resurrection is my justification, v. 25
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
724
Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
Chan read NT and wondered whether we in church are missing (19). I wonder who has read the NT and not wondered the same.
Think Biblically rather than conventionally (20).
--"those would would rather die before their convictions do"
Jesus never begs us to give Him some small part of ourselves. He commands everything from His followers (22).
Beth Moore, Believing God
"...we see so little primarily because we believe Him for so little."
Join Beth in "praying that God will perform a miracle of His choosing in every life during our journey" through this particular study (7).
"God is calling us to leave the passive life bred by a past-tense view of faith and to participate in present-active-participle believing!"
"Nothing on earth compares to the strength God willingly interjects into lives caught in the act of believing" (11).
"Pray for a heart and a mind to diligently seek Him. Then immediately begin walking in faith as one who already has what she has asked" (15).
"If He can raise the dead, He can surely enliven the lazy? We have been called to a present-active-participle walk of faith, not a park 'n' ride" (18).
FIVE STATEMENT PLEDGE OF FAITH
1. God is Who He says He is.
2. God can do what He says He can do.
3. I am who God says I am.
4. I can do all things through Christ.
5. God's Word is alive and active in me.
Chan read NT and wondered whether we in church are missing (19). I wonder who has read the NT and not wondered the same.
Think Biblically rather than conventionally (20).
--"those would would rather die before their convictions do"
Jesus never begs us to give Him some small part of ourselves. He commands everything from His followers (22).
Beth Moore, Believing God
"...we see so little primarily because we believe Him for so little."
Join Beth in "praying that God will perform a miracle of His choosing in every life during our journey" through this particular study (7).
"God is calling us to leave the passive life bred by a past-tense view of faith and to participate in present-active-participle believing!"
"Nothing on earth compares to the strength God willingly interjects into lives caught in the act of believing" (11).
"Pray for a heart and a mind to diligently seek Him. Then immediately begin walking in faith as one who already has what she has asked" (15).
"If He can raise the dead, He can surely enliven the lazy? We have been called to a present-active-participle walk of faith, not a park 'n' ride" (18).
FIVE STATEMENT PLEDGE OF FAITH
1. God is Who He says He is.
2. God can do what He says He can do.
3. I am who God says I am.
4. I can do all things through Christ.
5. God's Word is alive and active in me.
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