David - Lows - working on duck decoys. Some are tough. Hi - did some tough guy moving stuff. Getting ready for transition.
Ahren - hi - wrist is getting better. Still painful but much better. Low is not knowing. Leaving it all up to God.
Jesse - car broke down. Fixed it which is great. Will be doing warehouse work. Pray for transportation.
Kevin - parents forgot about daylight savings. Reminded them It was.
Amy - quarter is wrapping up. Stressful. Get a week off soon. Please pray for India team (my mom and Kari's family.)
Linda - had fun rescuing a bull on Cord road. Elizabeth did science Olympiad. Won 1st place in chemistry and team won.
Sarah. - high - kids are off. Last week we prayed for lottery. Karis is 6th. Still a long shot. Kids are feeling better.
Steve - recruitment and bookings for houseboats. Sleep. Like the spring weather.
PRAY FOR KARI AND THE FOLKS ON THE INDIA TRIP!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Sunday March 11, 2012 - Mathew 14 - Gennesaret
We did a quick summary of the latest events in Christ’s ministry. We talked about the gut wrenching news Jesus received about John, the feeding of the 5,000, and then the healing of folks who reached out to touch him at Gennesaret.
We shared how Gennesarets were not exclusively covenant folks but instead were outside of the covenant. They would carry the label – pagans.
When we read about the religious folks getting hung up on his disciples not washing their hands properly, we discussed at how tempting it is to miss the work of the gospel by getting focused on petty differences. We asked ourselves if we at times perhaps seek petty differences to hide from the power and call of Christ on our lives.
When we read about the disciples sharing that they were concerned about the Pharisees being offended, we shared how the disciples appear to some extent more concerned about how they fit in with the religious folks and less concerned about the incredibly unprecedented miraculous acts of Christ – 1. Feeding the 5,000. 2. Healings at Gennesaret.
We were challenged to ask ourselves are their times where Christ is working in our lives and we ignore His presence because of our concern of His person and grace appears offensive to the influential.
We read in Mathew 26:31-33 where Jesus said that when he goes to the cross all His disciples will be offended.
We acknowledged that perhaps when Jesus asks us to take up a cross of another, even an enemy, we are offended and choose to distract with petty things so we don’t have to bleed mercy in love for those who persecute us.
We mentioned I Corinthians 9:19-23 as a theme to this passage. Jesus calls us, through His grace in us, to be all things to all people. We acknowledged that this challenge will always be offensive until we’ve gone to the cross, seen the heart of God poured out through Christ crucified for us. We then suggested that we will be free from being personally offended when and only when we have been crucified with Christ and no longer live but Christ lives in us.
We shared how Gennesarets were not exclusively covenant folks but instead were outside of the covenant. They would carry the label – pagans.
When we read about the religious folks getting hung up on his disciples not washing their hands properly, we discussed at how tempting it is to miss the work of the gospel by getting focused on petty differences. We asked ourselves if we at times perhaps seek petty differences to hide from the power and call of Christ on our lives.
When we read about the disciples sharing that they were concerned about the Pharisees being offended, we shared how the disciples appear to some extent more concerned about how they fit in with the religious folks and less concerned about the incredibly unprecedented miraculous acts of Christ – 1. Feeding the 5,000. 2. Healings at Gennesaret.
We were challenged to ask ourselves are their times where Christ is working in our lives and we ignore His presence because of our concern of His person and grace appears offensive to the influential.
We read in Mathew 26:31-33 where Jesus said that when he goes to the cross all His disciples will be offended.
We acknowledged that perhaps when Jesus asks us to take up a cross of another, even an enemy, we are offended and choose to distract with petty things so we don’t have to bleed mercy in love for those who persecute us.
We mentioned I Corinthians 9:19-23 as a theme to this passage. Jesus calls us, through His grace in us, to be all things to all people. We acknowledged that this challenge will always be offensive until we’ve gone to the cross, seen the heart of God poured out through Christ crucified for us. We then suggested that we will be free from being personally offended when and only when we have been crucified with Christ and no longer live but Christ lives in us.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Prayers 03/04/2012
Ahren- - hi low - surgery went well and I can move my thumb more. Went to Celebrate Recovery. It was great and my brother might come too now. looking for work or school.
Sarah - kids have been sick. Pray for school options. Home school.
Kari - getting zero sleep. Hectic. School, work, family stuff to leave for trip. Pray for scheduler at work. Leave Friday for India.
David - duck decoy is going well. Ultra high is my wife said that my duck looks better than the ones at Walmart. Low - reminded of loving family and bride like Christ loves the church.
Linda - high - spent yesterday with Dave. Low - Dave ate all the chocolate. Prayer if that house options can be pushed back a few months.
Kevin - high - got a good grade on my calculus test. Had to endure 10 minutes of whining by people about the easy stuff.
Steve - bookings. Staff training. Trust that God is good. Compassion for family.
Sarah - kids have been sick. Pray for school options. Home school.
Kari - getting zero sleep. Hectic. School, work, family stuff to leave for trip. Pray for scheduler at work. Leave Friday for India.
David - duck decoy is going well. Ultra high is my wife said that my duck looks better than the ones at Walmart. Low - reminded of loving family and bride like Christ loves the church.
Linda - high - spent yesterday with Dave. Low - Dave ate all the chocolate. Prayer if that house options can be pushed back a few months.
Kevin - high - got a good grade on my calculus test. Had to endure 10 minutes of whining by people about the easy stuff.
Steve - bookings. Staff training. Trust that God is good. Compassion for family.
Sunday March 4, 2012 - Mathew 14 - Walking on The Water
This morning we read about Jesus sending the disciples into a storm.
We quickly made the connection that perhaps Jesus still sends His disciples into storms (situations beyond our control.) We talked about how through trapping Israel between Egypt's Armies and the Red Sea allowed Israel in a special way to see salvation.
David Long suggested that perhaps situations beyond our control put our eyes, ears, and hearts in a position to see the Lord's salvation today. We mentioned David Crowder's song "Here is Our King," Romans 8:20-21, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer's writings from prison, to suggest that in a storm of darkness, confusion, and death Christ reveals His light, His faith, and Life.
We paraphrased Romans 8:20-21 by saying all creation is groaning. Help! We need a savior. As we look to the celebration of His resurrection soon, we couldn't help but imagine that perhaps every morning, Christ, by the work of the Spirit says to our cry for a savior, "Ready of not, here I come."
St. Francis of Asisi captures Christ heart which extends His salvation to us every moment and every day with His words, "what you are looking for, is what is looking."
In the storm, what you are seeking, is seeking you. What you are longing, is longing for you. What you are pursuing, is pursuing you.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave. . . .for you."
In the storm, what you are seeking, is seeking you. What you are longing, is longing for you. What you are pursuing, is pursuing you.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave. . . .for you."
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