[MEDITATE + GIVE]
Consider 1 Thessalonians 5:11 - “…encourage one another and build each other up…”. Today, encourage someone you know by acknowledging their character, skills, and/or abilities you see in them.
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
LENT 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers - Day 35
[MEDITATE + PRAYER]
“I fear that we're asking God to move mountains, forgetting that God also wants to move us. In fact, it's possible that we are that mountain." ~ Eugene Cho
The aim of Lent is to experience deeper spiritual formation. Consider 2 Peter 1:5-9. What discipline and virtue needs to added into your life? What attitude, behavior, desire, etc. is God putting his finger on? What does he want to see changed (or moved) in your life? If you aren’t sure, spend time asking Him today.
Sunday, April 9, 2017
LENT 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers - 4th Sunday (Palm Sunday)
[CELEBRATION]
Consider John 12:12-19. There is a KING and he is good. He is the fulfiller of God’s promises. Hosanna! Our help is here. He loves us and there is nothing to fear.
Give praise to the king! Let's worship him and be grateful.
Consider John 12:12-19. There is a KING and he is good. He is the fulfiller of God’s promises. Hosanna! Our help is here. He loves us and there is nothing to fear.
Give praise to the king! Let's worship him and be grateful.
Saturday, April 8, 2017
LENT 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers - Day 33
[MEDITATE + PRAY + GIVE]
Consider Luke 4:24-30. Like Elijah and Elisha, Jesus ministered to those who were outside the boundaries of his Jewish faith and tradition. Also, consider John 17:20-21. Jesus desires unity within the diverse people who make up the church.
Find out more about Christian unity and interfaith dialogues and initiatives in your area. Pray for their success in breaking down barriers and building community. Pray for a willingness to become more active in pursuing Christian unity.
#GCofDunedinLent
Consider Luke 4:24-30. Like Elijah and Elisha, Jesus ministered to those who were outside the boundaries of his Jewish faith and tradition. Also, consider John 17:20-21. Jesus desires unity within the diverse people who make up the church.
Find out more about Christian unity and interfaith dialogues and initiatives in your area. Pray for their success in breaking down barriers and building community. Pray for a willingness to become more active in pursuing Christian unity.
#GCofDunedinLent
Friday, April 7, 2017
LENT 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers - Day 32
[GIVE]
Meditate on Romans 12:18 and call or message someone you have had a falling out with make amends.
Meditate on Romans 12:18 and call or message someone you have had a falling out with make amends.
Thursday, April 6, 2017
LENT 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers - Day 31
[READ + MEDITATE]
Read Romans 5:1-11 and make a mental note or write down all the words that come to mind when you hear the word “salvation."
Romans 5:1-11
Peace and Joy
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Read Romans 5:1-11 and make a mental note or write down all the words that come to mind when you hear the word “salvation."
Romans 5:1-11
Peace and Joy
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
LENT 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers - Day 30
[READ + MEDITATE]
Read Psalm 90. In particular, reflect on verses 1-6 and 12-14. Allow yourself to feel the grandeur of God (and the finiteness of yourself). May this exercise humble you and invite you into deeper reliance upon his presence and grace.
Psalm 90
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. 2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You turn men back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men." 4 For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. 5 You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning-- 6 though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered. 7 We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. 10 The length of our days is seventy years-- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. 11 Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. 12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 13 Relent, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. 16 May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. 17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-- yes, establish the work of our hands.
Read Psalm 90. In particular, reflect on verses 1-6 and 12-14. Allow yourself to feel the grandeur of God (and the finiteness of yourself). May this exercise humble you and invite you into deeper reliance upon his presence and grace.
Psalm 90
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. 2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You turn men back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men." 4 For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. 5 You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning-- 6 though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered. 7 We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. 10 The length of our days is seventy years-- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. 11 Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. 12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 13 Relent, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. 16 May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. 17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-- yes, establish the work of our hands.
Monday, April 3, 2017
LENT 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers - Day 29
[READ + MEDITATE]
The final fruit is SELF-CONTROL. The Greek word used for self-control in this passage is enkrateia and it can mean continence and temperance. Take time to consider God's self-control. Is what way(s) does he exhibit temperance?
May God enable us to exercise self-control and to be temperate. #GCofDunedinLent
Sunday, April 2, 2017
LENT 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers - 4th Sunday
[READ + MEDITATE]
As we continue our consideration of the “Fruit of Spirit,” it’s important to remember that these fruits are not only attributes for us to prize and prioritize as important, this fruit also describes what God is like; and this list of fruits are some the very character traits of God that we are called to emulate as image-bearers (Gen. 1:26).
The 8th fruit is GENTLENESS. The Greek word used for gentleness in this passage is prautes and it can mean meekness, mildness, and humble kindness.
Much like yesterday's reflection on faithfulness, it is an interesting thought to think of God as being meek and mild. Take some time today to consider God's mildness and humble kindness. And rejoice.
As we continue our consideration of the “Fruit of Spirit,” it’s important to remember that these fruits are not only attributes for us to prize and prioritize as important, this fruit also describes what God is like; and this list of fruits are some the very character traits of God that we are called to emulate as image-bearers (Gen. 1:26).
The 8th fruit is GENTLENESS. The Greek word used for gentleness in this passage is prautes and it can mean meekness, mildness, and humble kindness.
Much like yesterday's reflection on faithfulness, it is an interesting thought to think of God as being meek and mild. Take some time today to consider God's mildness and humble kindness. And rejoice.
Friday, March 31, 2017
LENT 2017 Lenten Activities + Prayers - Day 28
[READ + MEDITATE]
As we continue our consideration of the “Fruit of Spirit,” it’s important to remember that these fruits are not only attributes for us to prize and prioritize as important, this fruit also describes what God is like; and this list of fruits are some the very character traits of God that we are called to emulate as image-bearers (Gen. 1:26).
The seventh fruit is FAITHFULNESS. The Greek word used for faithfulness in this passage is pistis and it can mean faith, firm conviction or persuasion, truthfulness, ground of belief, and trustworthiness.
It is an interesting thought to think of God as being one full of faith and conviction. Take some time today to consider God's pistis (faithfulness). And let's ask God for some of that faithfulness and conviction...in a age of cynicism, may we be found faithful. #GCofDunedinLent
As we continue our consideration of the “Fruit of Spirit,” it’s important to remember that these fruits are not only attributes for us to prize and prioritize as important, this fruit also describes what God is like; and this list of fruits are some the very character traits of God that we are called to emulate as image-bearers (Gen. 1:26).
The seventh fruit is FAITHFULNESS. The Greek word used for faithfulness in this passage is pistis and it can mean faith, firm conviction or persuasion, truthfulness, ground of belief, and trustworthiness.
It is an interesting thought to think of God as being one full of faith and conviction. Take some time today to consider God's pistis (faithfulness). And let's ask God for some of that faithfulness and conviction...in a age of cynicism, may we be found faithful. #GCofDunedinLent
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