The end of self-revelry is the start of freedom and victory, of relief, of peace and security, of love, of something so much greater than we could ever hope to be or achieve on our own... in the "death" of our "selfies" we find new life in Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:13: No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
What words of hope Paul presents us with, as our most wonderful sermon series, iRock: The End of Self-Revelry, comes to a close.
We are not alone.
We should be encouraged.
We overcome.
Because of Jesus.
Jesus says in Matthew 26:41, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Prayer is definitely key, as it connects us to our source of strength, our capital G God. We do not overcome against temptation alone.
In light of this wonderful Scripture, how then do we pray and prepare our hearts and minds for Sunday?
Because we are not alone, but instead are blessed not only by God's presence, but also by the presence of brothers and sisters in Christ who are walking the same path and encountering similar struggles, let us pray for accountability and truth. Isolation from God and from His Body has no place when it comes to freedom and victory from temptation and from sin. John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Because we are encouraged by God's faithfulness, let us pray for continued daily presence on our part. He is always available - let us strive to meet with Him daily. John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Because we know this victory, or way out, comes from God and not our own strength, let us also pray for dependence on God as we set aside our prideful attitudes and fully lean into Him for support and strength. 1 Corinthians 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for Your faithfulness, for the truth of Your Word, and for Your strength. Refine us. We need you. Please draw near to us as we draw near to you.
Amen
PoC|Coverage is tonight at 6pm... try it, you'll like it!
Blessings,
Pastor Celia
Showing posts with label iPray. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iPray. Show all posts
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Thursday, May 14, 2015
iPray: 1 Corinthians 10:11-12
Warning labels can be helpful, scary, and sometimes funny as they state the seemingly obvious.
Consider these "funny"/"obvious" supposed warning labels:
For a Go-Kart: "This product moves when used."
For an iPod Shuffle: "Do not eat."
For a hairdryer: "Do not use while sleeping."
For a tube of squeeze cheese product: "For best results, remove cap."
For a Dremel: "Not intended for use as a dental drill."
Maybe it all started with someone needing a reminder that McDonalds coffee is hot.
Or maybe it started with grumbling and golden cows.
"These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" -1 Corinthians 10:11-12
When it comes to warnings, it seems as though they exist to advise, that they are informed by previous examples, and that they are relevant to us now. Paul makes his purposes very clear in our beloved 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 passage. He is intentionally pointing out the antics of the Israelites as more than just a "nice" story... more than just something to shake our heads at and go "wow, those Israelites"... no, Paul implies a relevance to readers ("were written down as warnings for us")... And it's not that complicated as to why... "if you think you are standing firm, be careful...")
Warning: You shouldn't eat an iPod Shuffle.
Warning: You should indeed remove the cap from the cheese-squeeze product for best results.
Warning: We need Jesus, our Rock, and His provision. We cannot do it on our own. Attempts to do so may result in golden cows and wandering for decades, snakes, destruction, and death.
How then should we pray?
Thankfully. Jesus provides.
Dependently. Jesus provides.
Vigilantly. Jesus provides.
Constantly. Jesus provides.
Dear Jesus,
Please be with us. Thank you for Your provision. Thank you for this reminder in your Word . Thank you that in my powerlessness I find Your strength. Please help me keep my eyes fixed on You and myself in Your presence so that through You I can stand firm.
Amen.
See you tonight at 6pm for PoC|Coverage.
Pastor Celia
Consider these "funny"/"obvious" supposed warning labels:
For a Go-Kart: "This product moves when used."
For an iPod Shuffle: "Do not eat."
For a hairdryer: "Do not use while sleeping."
For a tube of squeeze cheese product: "For best results, remove cap."
For a Dremel: "Not intended for use as a dental drill."
Maybe it all started with someone needing a reminder that McDonalds coffee is hot.
Or maybe it started with grumbling and golden cows.
"These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" -1 Corinthians 10:11-12
When it comes to warnings, it seems as though they exist to advise, that they are informed by previous examples, and that they are relevant to us now. Paul makes his purposes very clear in our beloved 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 passage. He is intentionally pointing out the antics of the Israelites as more than just a "nice" story... more than just something to shake our heads at and go "wow, those Israelites"... no, Paul implies a relevance to readers ("were written down as warnings for us")... And it's not that complicated as to why... "if you think you are standing firm, be careful...")
Warning: You shouldn't eat an iPod Shuffle.
Warning: You should indeed remove the cap from the cheese-squeeze product for best results.
Warning: We need Jesus, our Rock, and His provision. We cannot do it on our own. Attempts to do so may result in golden cows and wandering for decades, snakes, destruction, and death.
How then should we pray?
Thankfully. Jesus provides.
Dependently. Jesus provides.
Vigilantly. Jesus provides.
Constantly. Jesus provides.
Dear Jesus,
Please be with us. Thank you for Your provision. Thank you for this reminder in your Word . Thank you that in my powerlessness I find Your strength. Please help me keep my eyes fixed on You and myself in Your presence so that through You I can stand firm.
Amen.
See you tonight at 6pm for PoC|Coverage.
Pastor Celia
Thursday, May 7, 2015
iPray: 1 Corinthians 10:9-10
"We should not test Christ, as some of them did - and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did - and were killed by the destroying angel." 1 Corinthians 10:9-10
Have you ever "grumbled" in the "wilderness"? Did it help? Did it solve anything? What was the result? Maybe you weren't killed by snakes or a destroying angel, but what possibly did die or suffer as a result of lack of trust in Christ? A relationship? A growth opportunity? A chance to represent Christ well to someone else?
As we continue to follow along this wonderful passage in 1 Corinthians, as well as the corresponding journey of the Israelites in the Old Testament, we can see the benefit in choosing to trust our God and settle in His comforting presence rather than forgoing wisdom and reacting in some of the ways the Israelites did.
In light of this passage, how should we pray in preparation for this week's upcoming sermon? Remember that we are praying to our Big G God! Scripture is a great way to assist/guide our prayer time.
Feeling overwhelmed by burdens?
Remember, you are praying to God, The Burden-Bearer (Psalm 68:19).
Feeling distressed and worried?
Remember, you are praying to God, my Peace (Romans 16:20).
Feeling like no one is reliable or comes through?
Remember, you are praying to A Faithful God (Psalm 36:5, Lamentations 3:23)
Dear Jesus,
Please continue to guide us as we walk with You. Please continue to reveal all the wonderful ways you love us, come through for us, and provide for us. Please help our first response to be praise, prayer, and trust, rather than lack of trust, grumbling, and a bad attitude.
Please also guide each of us as we ask You to help us "find our awe" and fully lean into whatever You would have us do as we walk in faith during this capital campaign time.
We love You. We need You. Please be with us and guide us. We are listening.
Amen.
See you tonight for PoC|Coverage, at 6pm!
Pastor Celia
Have you ever "grumbled" in the "wilderness"? Did it help? Did it solve anything? What was the result? Maybe you weren't killed by snakes or a destroying angel, but what possibly did die or suffer as a result of lack of trust in Christ? A relationship? A growth opportunity? A chance to represent Christ well to someone else?
As we continue to follow along this wonderful passage in 1 Corinthians, as well as the corresponding journey of the Israelites in the Old Testament, we can see the benefit in choosing to trust our God and settle in His comforting presence rather than forgoing wisdom and reacting in some of the ways the Israelites did.
In light of this passage, how should we pray in preparation for this week's upcoming sermon? Remember that we are praying to our Big G God! Scripture is a great way to assist/guide our prayer time.
Feeling overwhelmed by burdens?
Remember, you are praying to God, The Burden-Bearer (Psalm 68:19).
Feeling distressed and worried?
Remember, you are praying to God, my Peace (Romans 16:20).
Feeling like no one is reliable or comes through?
Remember, you are praying to A Faithful God (Psalm 36:5, Lamentations 3:23)
Dear Jesus,
Please continue to guide us as we walk with You. Please continue to reveal all the wonderful ways you love us, come through for us, and provide for us. Please help our first response to be praise, prayer, and trust, rather than lack of trust, grumbling, and a bad attitude.
Please also guide each of us as we ask You to help us "find our awe" and fully lean into whatever You would have us do as we walk in faith during this capital campaign time.
We love You. We need You. Please be with us and guide us. We are listening.
Amen.
See you tonight for PoC|Coverage, at 6pm!
Pastor Celia
Thursday, April 30, 2015
iPray: 1 Corinthians 10: 7-8
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 2 Corinthians 10: 7-8
Last week I made a bit of fun of the Israelites cows. This week is no better, though instead of actual livestock, we're talking about cows of a golden variety. This time the Israelites request Aaron make them gods to "go before them" (Exodus 32:1) because Moses was taking too long to come down from the mountain. In a moment (of panic? of impatience? of craving?) they exchange God, who has proven to be their provider and sustainer, for a golden cow fashioned for them by Aaron out of their collective jewelry. Not only that, they give credit to the golden cow as being the one that brought them out of Egypt. What? Even God, when talking with Moses, discusses how quickly they did this. "They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them (Exodus 32:8a)."
The Bible has a lot to say about revelry/indulging/idolatry. It's a big deal when we place other things above God. There is no substitute for Him.
There's really no better way to say it than to just let Scripture speak for itself.
In Jonah 2:8 we read how "Those that cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."
Forfeit grace? For something worthless? No thanks.
Well said. Ouch.
In Jeremiah 2:5-6 we read
This is what the Lord says:
Psalm 115 might just be a great Psalm to pray through in your moment, whatever it may be, when you're waiting for God to act, and the panic, impatience, and cravings start to speak louder than the character and actions of God. This Psalm puts the power/benefit/use of idols (nothing) in perspective to God (capable of everything...)
115 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
Last week I made a bit of fun of the Israelites cows. This week is no better, though instead of actual livestock, we're talking about cows of a golden variety. This time the Israelites request Aaron make them gods to "go before them" (Exodus 32:1) because Moses was taking too long to come down from the mountain. In a moment (of panic? of impatience? of craving?) they exchange God, who has proven to be their provider and sustainer, for a golden cow fashioned for them by Aaron out of their collective jewelry. Not only that, they give credit to the golden cow as being the one that brought them out of Egypt. What? Even God, when talking with Moses, discusses how quickly they did this. "They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them (Exodus 32:8a)."
The Bible has a lot to say about revelry/indulging/idolatry. It's a big deal when we place other things above God. There is no substitute for Him.
There's really no better way to say it than to just let Scripture speak for itself.
In Jonah 2:8 we read how "Those that cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."
Forfeit grace? For something worthless? No thanks.
Well said. Ouch.
In Jeremiah 2:5-6 we read
This is what the Lord says:
“What fault did your ancestors find in me,
that they strayed so far from me?
They followed worthless idols
and became worthless themselves.
They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord,
who brought us up out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness,
through a land of deserts and ravines,
a land of drought and utter darkness,
a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
that they strayed so far from me?
They followed worthless idols
and became worthless themselves.
They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord,
who brought us up out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness,
through a land of deserts and ravines,
a land of drought and utter darkness,
a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
They became worthless themselves.... They did not ask...
Well said. Ouch.
Think on a time where panic, impatience, or craving "won out" over trust in God. In the Israelites moment of waiting for Moses to return down the mountain, they would have been better served praying to their steadfast, trustworthy God, rather than simply jump ship, discard the previous ways in which God came through for them, and worship their golden calf.
Psalm 115 might just be a great Psalm to pray through in your moment, whatever it may be, when you're waiting for God to act, and the panic, impatience, and cravings start to speak louder than the character and actions of God. This Psalm puts the power/benefit/use of idols (nothing) in perspective to God (capable of everything...)
Psalm
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
2 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.
“Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
5 They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
6 They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
7 They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8 Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them.
the work of human hands.
5 They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
6 They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
7 They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8 Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them.
9 O Israel,[a] trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
He is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
12 The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us;
he will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord,
both the small and the great.
he will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord,
both the small and the great.
14 May the Lord give you increase,
you and your children!
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
you and your children!
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
16 The heavens are the Lord's heavens,
but the earth he has given to the children of man.
17 The dead do not praise the Lord,
nor do any who go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the Lord!
but the earth he has given to the children of man.
17 The dead do not praise the Lord,
nor do any who go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the Lord!
PoC|Coverage is tonight, 6-8pm. Come join us as we pray through and care for needs both near and far!
Pastor Celia
Thursday, April 23, 2015
iPray: 1 Corinthians 10:5-6
I HOPE YOUR COWS WERE HAPPY!
"Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did." 1 Corinthians 10:5-6
Disobedience and unbelief did not bode well for most of the Israelites. Far removed from their experiences, it is easy to shake one's head and go "Tsk, tsk, silly Israelites. God saved you. He parted the Red Sea for you. He met your needs. He fed you. He quenched your thirsts. He promised you something really, really, really nice. Why don't you believe? Why don't you trust? Why don't you obey?"
In Numbers 32, we read about how some of the Israelites wanted to settle in the nice land of Jazer and Gilead... apparently a nice hilly place for cows and grazing... but it was not the Promised Land. God's response to Moses' request is rather straightforward:
"The LORD's anger was aroused that day and he swore this oath: 'Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of those who were twenty years old or more when they came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Issac and Jacob - not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the LORD wholeheartedly.' " (Numbers 32:11-12).
Great. I hope your cows were happy. I bet the hills were alive with the sound of music, too. Not.
It is easy to be harsh on the Israelites, yet I have found myself "right there" with them, lacking in belief, trust, and obedience, recoiling back to the same things that don't work, all the while having experienced the saving, miraculous awesome wonderment of God.
There's gotta be a better way!
The word recoil is quite interesting, and in addition to springing back, it is also the word used to describe kickback from a gun. Apparently there's some smart, physics-y law at work during this recoil, regarding the conservation of momentum. I'll be honest, guns and physics, alas, are not areas of expertise of mine. This conservation of momentum law makes it sound as if in a closed system (with no external forces acting on it) the initial and the final momentum will be equal. So... equal and opposite reaction... so... you always get what you always got. Okay so let me take that and run with it...
I don't want to give up on what God has for me (and others) trying to make some cows happy (in whatever form they come in.) I don't want to settle. Yet, I have lived in the "recoil"... when I'm tired. When I'm grouchy. When it's all about my "selfie". When my equilibrium was threatened or at risk and I didn't want to give up control. Though I longed for this "wholeheartedly" thing exhibited by Joshua and Caleb, I found myself "springing back" to attempting to rely on myself and my plan. How did that work out for me? (Not well.) What's an Israelite to do?!?! (Forget the cows and cling to Jesus...!)
We need to intensely and consistently seek out and seek after THE external force that can change us up and free us from recoiling... from always getting what we've always gotten. From resorting back to tendencies to settle. I'm pretty sure, as children of God, we want to unleash MOMENTUM for the Kingdom of God, not conserve it. :)
In light of this week's passage, and our overall sermon series (iRock: the end of self-revelry), let us prayerfully consider the following questions together:
Have you ever settled? Reflect on that experience.
Was what you settled for better than what God has for you?
Have you ever found yourself in a cycle where you recoil back to your own tendencies and comfort zones, much like the Israelites did?
Do you believe God can help you (and everyone you know) overcome that?
Do you long to follow God as Caleb and Joshua did... wholeheartedly?
Do you believe God can help you (and everyone you know) do that?
Dear Jesus,
I believe You can save and provide for everyone I know. I don't want to get in the way. Help me turn to You daily so that I don't recoil back to my ways and settle. Help me be transformed and changed by You so that I can reflect Your love toward other people. Don't let me settle. Instead, settle me down in Your presence every day. Amen.
Join us at 6pm tonight, at PoC|Coverage, where we will spend some time praying for everyone we know that we believe Jesus can save AND provide for...
Pastor Celia
Thursday, April 16, 2015
iPray: 1 Corinthians 10:4
Prayer is really a fantastic (and rather easy/quick) way to get our eyes off our "selfies". As we continue on in our sermon series: iRock: The End of Self Revelry, how can we pray in light of our passage 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (with emphasis this week on verse 4)? One useful tool is to pray through the acronym PRAY: praise, repent, ask, yield. For anyone reading the PRAY IT portion of the blog, let's just go ahead and do that today. Why not?
iPraise: Dear Jesus, Thank you for being my provider. Thank you for being my sustainer. Thank you for being ever-present.
iRepent: Dear Jesus, Please forgive me for the times when I have not trusted You or depended on You, and for when I have stepped away from you to try to meet my own needs in ways that did not honor You.
"Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness." 1 Corinthians 10:5
iAsk: (If you have not yet spent time with Jesus asking the questions/praying the prayer posited to us this past Sunday, now would be a great time. Trust me! Jesus, myself, (and my ping pong ball, haha!) had the most amazing time on Monday with this, believe it or not! Here it is: Jesus, Show me who I am to you. Show me my true "self." Guide me in a good and honest discovery of my cravings. What do I crave? In what do I revel?
"Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, 'The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to indulge in revelry.'" 1 Corinthians 10:7
iYield: Dear Jesus, help me surrender to seeing myself as You see me. Help me to surrender all my cravings to You. Help me to trust you to meet my needs and to sustain me. Help me revel in You. Help me to be mindful of and thankful that you are ever-present.
"Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12
PoC|Coverage is tonight at 6pm. Join us as we pray it up! We're better together, and it's more fun when you are there!
Pastor Celia
iPraise: Dear Jesus, Thank you for being my provider. Thank you for being my sustainer. Thank you for being ever-present.
"For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ." 1 Corinthians 10:4b
iRepent: Dear Jesus, Please forgive me for the times when I have not trusted You or depended on You, and for when I have stepped away from you to try to meet my own needs in ways that did not honor You.
"Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness." 1 Corinthians 10:5
iAsk: (If you have not yet spent time with Jesus asking the questions/praying the prayer posited to us this past Sunday, now would be a great time. Trust me! Jesus, myself, (and my ping pong ball, haha!) had the most amazing time on Monday with this, believe it or not! Here it is: Jesus, Show me who I am to you. Show me my true "self." Guide me in a good and honest discovery of my cravings. What do I crave? In what do I revel?
"Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, 'The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to indulge in revelry.'" 1 Corinthians 10:7
iYield: Dear Jesus, help me surrender to seeing myself as You see me. Help me to surrender all my cravings to You. Help me to trust you to meet my needs and to sustain me. Help me revel in You. Help me to be mindful of and thankful that you are ever-present.
"Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12
PoC|Coverage is tonight at 6pm. Join us as we pray it up! We're better together, and it's more fun when you are there!
Pastor Celia
Thursday, April 9, 2015
iPray: 1 Corinthians 10:1-3
When I was little and living on the east coast, I saw a school guidance counselor who asked me if I knew who the most important person in the world was. At the time, I believed in Jesus... (my foolish adolescent/adult brain hadn't attempted to complicate things). I answered "Jesus..." (So happy to get the question right!) Smiling, I waited for the response of the guidance counselor, who then informed me that I was wrong. Try again. (Blank stare.) No idea. So she held out a mirror and had me look in it. There was my answer. I was the most important person in the world. WHAT?! This was news to me. Apparently I received it as big news. I went home and with puffed up chest and inflated head, alerted my mother to this newfound "truth", which she promptly corrected.
We live in a culture where it is all about me. This is the common sense approach. The practical approach. If I don't make it all about me, who will? Gotta take care of me... I'm awesome. If I don't think I'm awesome well who else will?
It's easy to narrow our scope and focus so much that we forget any kind of a bigger picture, including, alas, Jesus, who He is for us, and what He did for us.
Has Jesus come through for you? Can you recall when you first cried out to Him? When you first received Him as your Lord, Savior, and Friend? Or maybe when you ran away from Him and then eventually came back? How He was there with open arms? Or when you first began to realize the magnitude of what it meant to actually love Jesus and follow Him with every ounce of your being, not just half-heartedly, when it was convenient to you? Or when you received that news you didn't want to hear and your first thought was an inner prayer and cry to the Only One who could do anything about it? Ah, Jesus. He Rocks!
We're beginning a new sermon series on Sunday called iRock: The End of Self-Revelry. We're going to explore an awesome passage - 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 and hopefully, together, as the family of God, learn to get rid of that "me" barrier that gets in the way of so many things.
In 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, we read what seems like a quick little "ditty" that at first I kind of thought of as "skippable." But wait! Not so! Paul is recalling past provisions and blessing and shared experiences from God that the Israelites had received.
So what? As this is the prayer-focused portion of our PoC blog, how does this inform our prayers today, in preparation for Sunday?
For us to go any further on this journey to end our self-revelry, perhaps we need to "begin with the beginning in mind"... I know there are great sayings that talk about beginning with the end in mind, and ending with the beginning in mind. And I totally advocate for that. But for this, we really all need to target our prayers with some praises, specifically recalling who we have received (Jesus) and what we have received (insert your story here: ). Mull on that, for a bit, child of God. And then let's iPray!!! Because, honestly, prayer is a great way to rather quickly get our eyes off of ourselves and on to Jesus.
iPray:
Dear Jesus,
Please be with each of us as we embark on this journey together, focusing our attention on YOU and not on ourselves. I don't want to be caught up in a cycle where I'm what's holding me back from a better relationship with You and a better relationship with other people. Today, I praise YOU for saving me. I praise YOU for drawing me close to You. I praise you for answered prayers.
Amen.
Join us tonight for PoC|Coverage, which starts at 6pm!
Pastor Celia
We live in a culture where it is all about me. This is the common sense approach. The practical approach. If I don't make it all about me, who will? Gotta take care of me... I'm awesome. If I don't think I'm awesome well who else will?
It's easy to narrow our scope and focus so much that we forget any kind of a bigger picture, including, alas, Jesus, who He is for us, and what He did for us.
Has Jesus come through for you? Can you recall when you first cried out to Him? When you first received Him as your Lord, Savior, and Friend? Or maybe when you ran away from Him and then eventually came back? How He was there with open arms? Or when you first began to realize the magnitude of what it meant to actually love Jesus and follow Him with every ounce of your being, not just half-heartedly, when it was convenient to you? Or when you received that news you didn't want to hear and your first thought was an inner prayer and cry to the Only One who could do anything about it? Ah, Jesus. He Rocks!
We're beginning a new sermon series on Sunday called iRock: The End of Self-Revelry. We're going to explore an awesome passage - 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 and hopefully, together, as the family of God, learn to get rid of that "me" barrier that gets in the way of so many things.
In 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, we read what seems like a quick little "ditty" that at first I kind of thought of as "skippable." But wait! Not so! Paul is recalling past provisions and blessing and shared experiences from God that the Israelites had received.
So what? As this is the prayer-focused portion of our PoC blog, how does this inform our prayers today, in preparation for Sunday?
For us to go any further on this journey to end our self-revelry, perhaps we need to "begin with the beginning in mind"... I know there are great sayings that talk about beginning with the end in mind, and ending with the beginning in mind. And I totally advocate for that. But for this, we really all need to target our prayers with some praises, specifically recalling who we have received (Jesus) and what we have received (insert your story here: ). Mull on that, for a bit, child of God. And then let's iPray!!! Because, honestly, prayer is a great way to rather quickly get our eyes off of ourselves and on to Jesus.
iPray:
Dear Jesus,
Please be with each of us as we embark on this journey together, focusing our attention on YOU and not on ourselves. I don't want to be caught up in a cycle where I'm what's holding me back from a better relationship with You and a better relationship with other people. Today, I praise YOU for saving me. I praise YOU for drawing me close to You. I praise you for answered prayers.
Amen.
Join us tonight for PoC|Coverage, which starts at 6pm!
Pastor Celia
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