Entries by tag: planning
Scripture reading for September 9th: Lamentations 1,2; Obadiah; Revelation 14
Read it online here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations%201,2;Obadiah;Revelation%2014&version=NLT
S:
Lamentations 1:9a (NLT) "She defiled herself with immorality and gave no thought to her future."
O:
This is one of the colorful descriptions God gives about how the people of Jerusalem were living prior to his judgment on the city. "Live for pleasure now. Who cares about tomorrow?" That sums up how the people then (and many today) lived. But now the "future" has arrived and the people are unprepared.
A:
I've been doing a lot of reflecting on the future lately, both on my own behalf and also for the church family I lead. I don't want us to be caught off guard. I don't want us to slip into a "live for the now" mentality and not be prepared. Here are some initial conclusions I've reached. 1) Be holy now. The call of God is one that calls us to live holy lives now, despite what the world around us says. 2) Considering the future means living with a kingdom of God mentality. We are a part of God's story. God is directing history somewhere on purpose. I want to participate in what God's doing. I don't want us to wake up one day and realize, "We were playing the wrong game!" I want the priorities of God's kingdom to be my/our priorities. Love, grace, worship, faith, humility, compassion, mission - these are the words I want to describe my life, but none of them are what I'm naturally inclined towards. I need to consider the future and God's kingdom to keep them in focus. 3) Sometimes good things in my life now ultimately hinder God's best for my future. It takes much prayer and great wisdom to discern what things were right for a season, were good things, but now must be set aside to step into what's next. God is always at work; life and circumstances and relationships are dynamic and complex. Giving thought to the future means regularly evaluating and re-evaluating practices, habits, processes, routines, and relationships to give God a chance to speak new and afresh into my life and the life of the church. 4) I'm glad my God is patient, wise and gracious, because I'm sure I have missed the boat at least a few times and have no expectation that I'll get it all right moving forward. Considering the future means remembering that God is walking with me/us, and that He has determined the final outcome.
P:
Lord give me wisdom & passion to consider the future and to step into it with faith and confidence in you. Help me to see the things I need to shed or change to step into what's next. Amen.
(Journal Key)
S: Scripture: Choose one thing that stood out.
O: Observation: What does it say (context, audience, meaning, etc.)?
A: Application: What principles apply to me? How should my life be different moving forward?
P: Prayer: Speak to God about what He showed you.
Read it online here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations%201,2;Obadiah;Revelation%2014&version=NLT
S:
Lamentations 1:9a (NLT) "She defiled herself with immorality and gave no thought to her future."
O:
This is one of the colorful descriptions God gives about how the people of Jerusalem were living prior to his judgment on the city. "Live for pleasure now. Who cares about tomorrow?" That sums up how the people then (and many today) lived. But now the "future" has arrived and the people are unprepared.
A:
I've been doing a lot of reflecting on the future lately, both on my own behalf and also for the church family I lead. I don't want us to be caught off guard. I don't want us to slip into a "live for the now" mentality and not be prepared. Here are some initial conclusions I've reached. 1) Be holy now. The call of God is one that calls us to live holy lives now, despite what the world around us says. 2) Considering the future means living with a kingdom of God mentality. We are a part of God's story. God is directing history somewhere on purpose. I want to participate in what God's doing. I don't want us to wake up one day and realize, "We were playing the wrong game!" I want the priorities of God's kingdom to be my/our priorities. Love, grace, worship, faith, humility, compassion, mission - these are the words I want to describe my life, but none of them are what I'm naturally inclined towards. I need to consider the future and God's kingdom to keep them in focus. 3) Sometimes good things in my life now ultimately hinder God's best for my future. It takes much prayer and great wisdom to discern what things were right for a season, were good things, but now must be set aside to step into what's next. God is always at work; life and circumstances and relationships are dynamic and complex. Giving thought to the future means regularly evaluating and re-evaluating practices, habits, processes, routines, and relationships to give God a chance to speak new and afresh into my life and the life of the church. 4) I'm glad my God is patient, wise and gracious, because I'm sure I have missed the boat at least a few times and have no expectation that I'll get it all right moving forward. Considering the future means remembering that God is walking with me/us, and that He has determined the final outcome.
P:
Lord give me wisdom & passion to consider the future and to step into it with faith and confidence in you. Help me to see the things I need to shed or change to step into what's next. Amen.
(Journal Key)
S: Scripture: Choose one thing that stood out.
O: Observation: What does it say (context, audience, meaning, etc.)?
A: Application: What principles apply to me? How should my life be different moving forward?
P: Prayer: Speak to God about what He showed you.
For Today's Bible reading, click the link.
S: Scripture: Choose one thing that stood out.
O: Observation: What does it say (context, audience, meaning, etc.)?
A: Application: What principles apply to me? How should my life be different moving forward?
P: Prayer: Speak to God about what He showed you.
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