Growth

Faith ~ Key Verses — GLORIFYTHELORD

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“And it is impossible to please God without faith.  Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.  Hebrews 11:6  NLT

I had a friend who would ask, “Do you believe God?’’ Her simple question pushed deep into my relationship with God.  Faith matters to God.  It is the way we enter into our relationship with Him.  To trust Him, to believe Him, to adjust my life accordingly, are all responses to His love shown to us through Jesus Christ.

Do you believe God?

“And it is impossible to please God without faith.  Anyone who wants to come to him just believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”  Hebrews 11:6

Intercession ~ Key Verses — GLORIFYTHELORD

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“Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings.  He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God.”  Colossians 4:12, NLT

We have been included in the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  This communion is part conversation.  Intercession is the privilege we have to talk with God about the needs of others.  Epaphras prayed for the spiritual growth of the men and women in the church he had left.  He still felt connected to them.  He still cared for them.  Even when he was not with them, he could still be part of God’s work among them.

I am supremely blessed when people who have been a part of our fellowship for a day, a week, or a couple of years, write back and say, “I’ve been praying for you all!”

D.L. Moody said, “Every great movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure.”

I’m hoping for a great movement of God in Vancouver.  I’m trusting God is raising up those who kneel in prayer with us.

 

“Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings.  He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God.”  Colossians 4:12

DiscipleMaker Stages App

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DiscipleMaker Stages App

I am excited about the DiscipleMaker Stages App that was launched last week by the CNBC.  Many thanks to Paul Johnson and the team that has made this app possible.

Origin has been using much of the material available to encourage people at different stages in their discipleship journey.  Now with it easily available online we can access material as disciple makers that will help us in a “just in time” manner.

The app is designed for your iPhone, iPad, or Ipod.

You can down load it here.

Rejoice ~ Key Verses — GLORIFYTHELORD

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“Always be full of joy in the Lord.  I say it again–rejoice!”  Philippians 4:4

This past week I felt my heart breaking at the news of two young men dying in the river at Golden Ears.  One of them was a dear family friend whom I had known since he was three months old.

While grief seemed to fill every corner of my heart, I also felt joy breaking in.  As I chose to consider the hope and the promise we have in Christ Jesus, joy would accompany my grief and the tremendous loss I felt.

It may seem strange to grieve with joy; but in darkness I was glad that Jesus was with us.  So I could rejoice in the Lord.  Music helped.  Scripture helped.  Praying helped.  Sitting quietly in nature helped.  Being with people who trust Jesus helped.  But ultimately I found I had to ask God to send His Spirit to help me rejoice in the Lord.

“Always be full of joy in the Lord.  I say it again–rejoice!”
Philippians 4:4

Obedience ~ Key verses — GLORIFYTHELORD

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“Those who accept my commands and obey them are the ones who love me.  And because they love me, my Father will love them.  And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”  John 14:21

Dogs and owners.  Last Sunday after the Origin gathering we were hanging out at UBC and I saw a funny sight.  A young man shows up at the park with his dog.  Sends the ball across the park.  Tells the dog to go get it.  The dog runs over and promptly defecates on the ball!  The dog did not bring that ball back.  The owner was disgusted, but picked up the ball, cleaned up after his dog, and tried again.  That was Scene 1!  The next ten minutes provided us with more entertainment and laughs for the rest of the day as the dog had its own mind and will and the young man shouted and threw his hands up in the air in disgust.

The young man needed to go to obedience school!  With the dog.

Life with the Lord Jesus Christ is also obedience school but it might be better to say we have been gracefully invited into the School of Love!

Jesus connects obedience to love.  If we love Him we will obey Him.  Our intention matters here.  As he gives us a new vision of life through His commands, our intention to obey is a response generated by the grace of His love.  We are not obeying to get God to like us.  We are obeying as a response to Him and His love towards us.  The delight here is that He keeps loving us and revealing Himself to us.

“Those who accept my commands and obey them are the ones who love me.  And because they love me, my Father will love them.  And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”  John 14:21

(Key verses are great for memorizing. Write it on a card and review, review, review.)