Equipped To Live

“Who do you say that I am?”  Jesus

Imagine today being asked this question by Jesus himself. What would your reply be?

“You are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”  Jesus

Could this same statement be said to you? How does that sit with you?

“If you want to become my follower, deny yourself and take up the cross.” Jesus

Have you been denying yourself? How so?

“What will it profit you to gain the whole world and forfeit your life?” Jesus

How much are you forfeiting in order to gain what is deemed important in our earthly culture?

These questions and our response to them are life defining questions. They are not easily answered. They are not to be taken lightly. As a matter of fact, any quick knee jerk response is insufficient for the gift that they offer to us. 

Jesus articulates that he is our everything – he is our Messiah – he is the Son that will undergo great suffering – he is the one to be killed – he is the one who will RISE – and it will be all for US! This is divine! Our human constructs could never even begin to attempt this kind of redemption for the world – only Jesus would – only Jesus.

And so knowing the gift that is poured out for the sake of the world, we are not to get in the way – but rather only on the way of the Jesus life. That is why these questions are presented to us. Jesus desires for us to grow into this life of discipleship. He knows, like Peter, we can’t just instantly get it – believe it – live it. We are however divinely invited to immerse ourselves into it. The ‘it’ is the faith life of a disciple of the living Christ. The ‘it’ is the struggle, the wrestling, the questioning, that comes when we follow to where it is that Jesus is leading us. 

That is exactly why we as Our Savior’s create and offer the opportunities for faith formation. Every week through a myriad of opportunities, we gather as faith community, to listen, to read, to reflect, to ask, to speak, to experience – all for the purpose of more fully living into the gift of real life that Jesus invites us into. Every kid and every adult, through the work of faithful parents, peers, mentors, and rabbis’, hear God’s story for them. 

God’s story shapes and grounds us. God’s story invites us into the questions. God’s story equips us to live – truly live! May we all fully immerse ourselves into God’s life shaping ministry.

We Are Blessed To Be A Blessing

May the light at the core of your being illuminate the world. Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and  glorify your father in heaven.                        Is the light of your life blessing others? Be Specific.     May you always be aware that you are loved beyond measure and may you be willing to love unconditionally in return.            God loves you and you can’t do nothing about it.                        How is God’s love for you being poured out as a blessing for others?     May you be reminded that we are all ONE. UBUNTU! The South African Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu describes Ubuntu as:  "It is the essence of being human. It speaks of the fact that my humanity is caught up and is inextricably bound up in yours. I am human because I belong. It speaks about wholeness, it speaks about compassion. A person with Ubuntu is welcoming, hospitable, warm and generous, willing to share. Such people are open and available to others, willing to be vulnerable, affirming of others, do not feel threatened that others are able and good, for they have a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that they belong in a greater whole. They know that they are diminished when others are humiliated, diminished when others are oppressed, diminished when others are treated as if they were less than who they are. The quality of Ubuntu gives people resilience, enabling them to survive and emerge still human despite all efforts to dehumanize them."   We are blessed to be a blessing!             How we doing at blessing each other and our world?     May we always remember that it is in giving that we receive….the greatest gift.            What gifts are you daily receiving?              What gifts are you daily giving?     May every doubt and fear be replaced by a deep and abiding trust as you behold evidence of God who is all around you.            Name the greatness of this God who is all around us.     Let’s become a Church of hunters of blessings………actively seeking them out in every experience and person you encounter!

The Power of Perseverance

The Power of Perseverance

P = ersist no matter what When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. Franklin D. Roosevelt   E = ndure discomfort If you want to increase your success rate, double your failure rate.  Thomas Watson Sr., founder of IBM   R =equest help from other people            S.O.S – Together we can handle almost anything.   When a friend is in trouble, don’t annoy him by asking if there is  anything that you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it.  Edgar Watson Howe, novelist, journalist, editor   S = teadfastly hold on to your beliefs and values You come to the planet with nothing and you leave with nothing, so  you’d better do some good while you’re here.  Alex Van Halen, member of the band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock  and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007   E – nvision triumph The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope  for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from  a distance but live right in it, under its roof.  Barbara Kingsolver, author   V = ery consistently keep at it It’s not that I’m so smart – it’s just that I stay with problems longer.  Albert Einstein   E = mbrace adversity as your teacher A broken spirit is more disabling than a broken body.  Roger Crawford, the first athlete with four impaired limbs to compete in  collegiate tennis   R = efuse to give up You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be  the best thing in the world for you.  Walt Disney   E = njoy and celebrate every tiny bit of progress If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound  ourselves.  Thomas Edison Name 2 or 3 things you need to move forward with……. Name two or three ways you will move forward…….. Remember: “Impossible” means “I’m possible.” -SARK, artist, author

The Power of Attitude!!!

DREAMS – A single step each day…….. add them up you have a life!

 

PURPOSE – It’s a Heart Thing! A Steady Beat!

 

PASSION – A deep belief like a dog on a bone – you don’t let go!

 

LIGHT the FUSE – explosive growth

 

COURAGE – innate desire to overcome and the

                        willingness to do what it takes

 

GOALS – little by little the bird builds the nest (Haitian Proverb)

 

ATTITUDE - is yours worth catching? Or do you live with a manure

spreader mentality?

 

LAUGHTER – ability to not take yourself too serious while taking on

life with ultimate seriousness that this time really does matter!

 

EXPECT the BEST – will settle for nothing less. The will to

            MAKE IT HAPPEN!

 

RENEWAL – What does it take to motivate looking ahead versus staying stuck?

           

PEACE – God Grant Me the Serenity to Accept the Things I Cannot 

Change, the Courage to Change the Things I Can, and the Wisdom

to Know the Difference!

THE DASH

THE DASH

Making a Difference with Our Lives   From the Beginning to the End of our lives……                          What matters is the in-between times……the Dash                            How you fill your days.   What you do with the time you have. What does the printed record recorded on Facebook tell of you?                                     Does it tell of what you are passionate about?   Who you care for?   All that God has done for you?   Does it point to something greater than just now?   Answer this…..                If my life had this in it I would be rich?                  What is it you want people to say about you when all is said and done? If there is a way for you to Outlive Your Life, what would that be?   Think Legacy.  Inspiration.  Hopefulness.     God has worked hard to get you here – it’s a special time in our world because of you – how do you most want to spend that time?                  What is the DREAM you hold in your heart?  Write it down here.                Matthew 22:34-39 “The Greatest Commandment,” “You shall love the Lord Your God with ALL YOUR Heart, and with ALL YOUR Soul, and with ALL YOUR Mind.”  And, “You shall love you neighbor as yourself.”

Encouragement - "The Push"

“You never know when one kind act, or when one word of encouragement, can change a life forever.” Zig Ziglar   The PUSH… some times we NEED IT.  Sometimes WE NEED TO GIVE IT.                Don’t Settle for the Ordinary…                            Anyone who hasn’t had a failure is an amateur.   You’ve got too much to say that could make a difference in the lives of too many people.  You’ll be cheating yourself and many others if you don’t use the talent that God has given you.   The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.         Flora Whittemore   Spend your time building others up because there are too many people in the demolition business today!   Why would I let someone else control what I say and what I feel and what kind of day I’m going to have?   Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” There are days when it’s hard to put one foot in front of the other, but those are the days when disciples are created.  It’s about making the most of the minutes we are given.   The Eagle drew courage from an innate wisdom.  The push was the greatest gift she had to offer.  And so one by one she pushed them and they FLEW!   Who is pushing you?   Who are you pushing?   We are made to SOAR!

SPREAD THE WORD Luke 3:1-6

Last week in this blog I referenced the potential for new small group gatherings for the body of Our Savior’s.  What you will see below is an example of a Bible Study and the kinds of conversations that could take place as community.  Just imagine the blessing that we could be to each other through this kind of spiritual wrestling and conversation.   

The Biblical Story

Luke introduces Jesus by first providing historical information that dates his arrival and also through illuminating the proclamation and prophecy of John the Baptist. Verses 4-6 are direct quotations of Isaiah 40 in which Isaiah prophecies about the Jews return to Jerusalem from their captivity in Babylon. The point being made in “make his paths straight” and “every valley shall be filled and every mountain shall be made low” is that God will make easy the return, restoration and redemption of the people. Luke is drawing a parallel here to the arrival of Jesus the Messiah who redeems the creation and brings God into a closer relationship with humanity. Our redemption and restoration does not happen through our works or efforts but through God’s unconditional grace, love and forgiveness embodied in Jesus the Christ.  

John is calling the Hebrew people out to the Jordan to start over as God’s people. Through the covenant with Abraham God promised that Abraham would be the father of a great nation, that his people would have land to live on and that all nations of the world would be blessed through them. The first two promises had been fulfilled but the people forgot that they were to be a blessing to the world. John calls them back to the Jordan, the body of water through which they passed into “the promised land” to repent, to have new minds so that they may live into the third leg of the promise. This promise will be fulfilled through Jesus, a son of David. Through him all the world will be brought into intimate relationship with God.  

Life Lessons for the Discipleship Journey

• The Gospel of Good News is something to be proclaimed to the whole world.  With trumpet blast, with voice and heart, we are to speak the Good News to others.  Talk with each other about times you gave a testimony about the power of God at work in your life.  What did that feel like?  What was the other person’s response?  
• Repentance (metanoia in Greek) literally means to have a new or changed mind. We are called to have our self-focused minds put to death so that we can think with God’s mind, being passionate not just for ourselves but for all people.  What has repentance looked like in your life – in the churches life together?
• In God’s perspective, everything that separates us from God has been destroyed. We are called to live as though the restoration and redemption of the cosmos is the only and true reality.  Where do you most see that being lived or ignored?  

 

Summary Statement/Question/Now What

• From what do you need to repent?  Where does you heart, soul, and mind need to be made new?
• Like John the Baptist, what would it take for you to speak out and up in order to spread the Gospel word?    

Life Connection Conversation  

Diving in by Getting out of the Boat  

If you had to identify with a person or statement in the text, who or what would it be and why?  

Mining Scripture by Digging Deeper

• John took a risk by calling the people to repentance.  Often folks will get angry at the messenger and dismiss the message.  Can you name a few more Biblical characters that experienced this same pain?  Will you be one of those Biblical characters for others in our world? 

 

• In a world filled with marketing and advertising, word of mouth is still the most powerful way to spread the word.  What would it take for you to be a spiritual/biblical/prophetic person of influence in someone else’s life?  If not you – then who?  If not now – then when?  

• Evangelism is not a church word for marketing.  Evangelism is the whole people of God being passionate about Jesus and doing whatever it takes to get others in on this message.  Brochures, newsletters, webpages – are not effective means for communicating the gospel for those who have not heard.  Only YOU – WE – are!  Will you be an evangelist for Jesus?

• In Jesus we hear weekly, “The Gifts of God are Free.”  That is a powerful message that most in our world have not heard.  The church is in danger of losing its voice when we silence our testimonies.  Imagine if the disciples who have gone before us allowed for the world to silence them.  Imagine Our Savior’s in ten years if we allow the world to silence us.

 

Living the Faith through Daily Application  

What if everyone who read and wrestled with this text were to be so convicted that they began to do one or two things differently?  

Who do you know that needs to hear the message of this passage? How will you help them to hear it?

Is there anything you need to do as a result of what you’ve learned this week?