Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Bible is screaming, "LCG!!"
Hey Downpour,
I was reading Ecclesiastes this morning and I came across this passage, which screamed out "LCG!!" to me.
Hope all your LCG times have been consistent and effective, filled with prayer and true accountability. I pray no one in our life group will be left without a brother or sister to pick him/her up.
The Holy Spirit seems to be laying similar convictions in the hearts of churches all over the world!
http://buildingchurchleaders.com/articles/2009/microchurch.html
I was reading Ecclesiastes this morning and I came across this passage, which screamed out "LCG!!" to me.
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
-Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Hope all your LCG times have been consistent and effective, filled with prayer and true accountability. I pray no one in our life group will be left without a brother or sister to pick him/her up.
The Holy Spirit seems to be laying similar convictions in the hearts of churches all over the world!
http://buildingchurchleaders.com/articles/2009/microchurch.html
Saturday, January 24, 2009
With still a week of fasting left, I better make full use of this opportunity to really show God my desperation and by His grace receive his blessings.
Commitments:
I commit to a week's time or self-denial... just fruits and vegetables and then a juice fast for the last 2 days. Everyday, I will go to FCC after class to persevere in praying and build my spiritual muscles. I commit to knowing God's own heart more.
Goals: To build up my prayer life and also hope that God'll continue to shed light on the areas in my life (like the walls due to my sinfulness i talked about during retreat) that He wants me to work on. (Praise God some things are already surfacing. Like one area is my interaction with people, that I'm not loving enough... and another is how God keeps bringing back the people I intended on reaching out to previously but did not follow through and that He wants to me DO SOMETHING!)
This is like my spiritual detox.
:]
- Angela -
Commitments:
I commit to a week's time or self-denial... just fruits and vegetables and then a juice fast for the last 2 days. Everyday, I will go to FCC after class to persevere in praying and build my spiritual muscles. I commit to knowing God's own heart more.
Goals: To build up my prayer life and also hope that God'll continue to shed light on the areas in my life (like the walls due to my sinfulness i talked about during retreat) that He wants me to work on. (Praise God some things are already surfacing. Like one area is my interaction with people, that I'm not loving enough... and another is how God keeps bringing back the people I intended on reaching out to previously but did not follow through and that He wants to me DO SOMETHING!)
This is like my spiritual detox.
:]
- Angela -
Human/Sex Trafficking Videos
Hey Downpour,
In light of Call+Response, here are some videos regarding this issue of human/sex trafficking in the world and right here in the United States.
This is collection of videos about human trafficking in general:
This is a video about sex trafficking in the United States:
More information can be found at: http://humantrafficking.change.org/
In light of Call+Response, here are some videos regarding this issue of human/sex trafficking in the world and right here in the United States.
This is collection of videos about human trafficking in general:
This is a video about sex trafficking in the United States:
More information can be found at: http://humantrafficking.change.org/
Friday, January 23, 2009
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
Commitments:
1. I can not eat meat, bread, or dairy, but still stuff my face with fruits, veggies, and legumes (or even look for loopholes). I know this is not the fast God desires. I'm committing to eating only fruits and veggies (no tubers or legumes) this Sunday-Wednesday and only water Thursday-Saturday.
2. During this time, I don't want to drag my feet around or just sleep the whole time. I commit to prayer in the mornings and whenever I'm hungry or sleepy during the day.
Goals:
1. My brother's birthday is tomorrow. He'll be turning 24. Praise God that my brother came to know Christ at an early time in his life and that he is living out the calling God has given him (teaching). I'm praying that God will provide for him a strong community of Christ-followers (mentors, peers, mentees).
2. Learn how to really cry out and persevere in prayer. I don't want to fall into mindless routine and to just go through the motions.
3. Learn to keep my eyes on God and wholeheartedly trust him with my future as I stay faithful to what he has already given me. I know I'll start to see my calling more clearly.
4. To experience the joy of being used by God in LCG, life group, ministry teams, men's ministry, classrooms, family, friends, roommates, strangers, future workplace, and in any other context.
Please pray for me in these areas!
1. I can not eat meat, bread, or dairy, but still stuff my face with fruits, veggies, and legumes (or even look for loopholes). I know this is not the fast God desires. I'm committing to eating only fruits and veggies (no tubers or legumes) this Sunday-Wednesday and only water Thursday-Saturday.
2. During this time, I don't want to drag my feet around or just sleep the whole time. I commit to prayer in the mornings and whenever I'm hungry or sleepy during the day.
Goals:
1. My brother's birthday is tomorrow. He'll be turning 24. Praise God that my brother came to know Christ at an early time in his life and that he is living out the calling God has given him (teaching). I'm praying that God will provide for him a strong community of Christ-followers (mentors, peers, mentees).
2. Learn how to really cry out and persevere in prayer. I don't want to fall into mindless routine and to just go through the motions.
3. Learn to keep my eyes on God and wholeheartedly trust him with my future as I stay faithful to what he has already given me. I know I'll start to see my calling more clearly.
4. To experience the joy of being used by God in LCG, life group, ministry teams, men's ministry, classrooms, family, friends, roommates, strangers, future workplace, and in any other context.
Please pray for me in these areas!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
fast or slow ?
hello everyone ! i wanted to REVIVEEEE and bring LIFE back to our blog =D
i want to use this blog to continue our spiritual growth together. i know that not everyone is fasting with the church, but i still believe that we are still taking other steps to grow our walk with God. i want to use this blog during the next 2 weeks to document our fasting and/or growth journey. it wont be like the winter vacay where each person was assigned and "coerced" more or less into blogging, but more of a free flowing exchange of ideas, thoughts, and prayers.
what i do ask is that you mention these two things:
1. your commitments while you fast
2. your goals for fasting
you can see what i mean by my example. and then there on after it's more of a update on your commitments/goals/praises.
commitments:
1. not watching tv or listening to secular music, so that i wont be influenced by worldly things during this time.
2. praying every single day for my family and certain people that i know God needs to work in.
goals:
1. for God to reveal to me my next step in my calling; i would like to even see a glimpse of how God will use my personal calling of teaching to expand his kingdom
2. greater spiritual power in my ministry esp. in the area of intercession
3. humility in my family members and deeper intimacy with one another so that they can experience God
please pray for me in these areas !
i want to use this blog to continue our spiritual growth together. i know that not everyone is fasting with the church, but i still believe that we are still taking other steps to grow our walk with God. i want to use this blog during the next 2 weeks to document our fasting and/or growth journey. it wont be like the winter vacay where each person was assigned and "coerced" more or less into blogging, but more of a free flowing exchange of ideas, thoughts, and prayers.
what i do ask is that you mention these two things:
1. your commitments while you fast
2. your goals for fasting
you can see what i mean by my example. and then there on after it's more of a update on your commitments/goals/praises.
commitments:
1. not watching tv or listening to secular music, so that i wont be influenced by worldly things during this time.
2. praying every single day for my family and certain people that i know God needs to work in.
goals:
1. for God to reveal to me my next step in my calling; i would like to even see a glimpse of how God will use my personal calling of teaching to expand his kingdom
2. greater spiritual power in my ministry esp. in the area of intercession
3. humility in my family members and deeper intimacy with one another so that they can experience God
please pray for me in these areas !
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Good evening Downpour! I arrived in Ann Arbor early this morning and am excited to face this new semester. It hit me on the plane that this may be my last flight into Michigan from NY, and I hit a depressive state for about 10 seconds...this was the last thought running in my mind before I knocked out on the plane. Anyway, it's great to be back (I hope you guys are even more excited than I) and lets strive to be amazing students/friends/Jesus-followers/yata yata yah this year!
John 20
Two things that struck me:
1) Mary encounters Jesus near the empty tomb, but cannot recognize him. If I witnessed someone's death penalty and then their burial...I would be pretty convinced that the person is dead. Mary even thought Jesus was a gardener when she first encountered him. I would've thought something along that line. However, all Jesus had to say was "Mary" and all of the sudden Mary had the guts to yell "Rabboni!" (sounds like an Italian dish, but it actually means teacher). There are many times I cannot recognize Christ in my own sin. And sometimes I use to blame Christ for all of this...he never calls my name! He never listens! However, in this story, Jesus has not yet returned to the Father (meaning Jesus' act of saving the world is still incomplete at this phase). Today, in the year 2009, Christ's death and resurrection is fully at work in each and every one of us. We now have the ability to call for him, instead of just waiting for him to call our name.
2) I was so inspired by Thomas. In my head, I was thinking..."this man is a scientist! BRAVO!" Doubt is important!!! Tim Keller states, "faith without doubt is like a human body without any antibodies in it." I would never ever EVER promote a pre-Christian or a Christian to avoid some of the challenging questions about the bible, Christian history, etc etc. However, to tap into the DEEPEST resources Christianity has to offer in living, coping, healing, and etc etc, it is important to listen to what Jesus says to Thomas in verse 27, "...stop doubting and believe."
John 20
Two things that struck me:
1) Mary encounters Jesus near the empty tomb, but cannot recognize him. If I witnessed someone's death penalty and then their burial...I would be pretty convinced that the person is dead. Mary even thought Jesus was a gardener when she first encountered him. I would've thought something along that line. However, all Jesus had to say was "Mary" and all of the sudden Mary had the guts to yell "Rabboni!" (sounds like an Italian dish, but it actually means teacher). There are many times I cannot recognize Christ in my own sin. And sometimes I use to blame Christ for all of this...he never calls my name! He never listens! However, in this story, Jesus has not yet returned to the Father (meaning Jesus' act of saving the world is still incomplete at this phase). Today, in the year 2009, Christ's death and resurrection is fully at work in each and every one of us. We now have the ability to call for him, instead of just waiting for him to call our name.
2) I was so inspired by Thomas. In my head, I was thinking..."this man is a scientist! BRAVO!" Doubt is important!!! Tim Keller states, "faith without doubt is like a human body without any antibodies in it." I would never ever EVER promote a pre-Christian or a Christian to avoid some of the challenging questions about the bible, Christian history, etc etc. However, to tap into the DEEPEST resources Christianity has to offer in living, coping, healing, and etc etc, it is important to listen to what Jesus says to Thomas in verse 27, "...stop doubting and believe."
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