Saturday, April 14, 2007
All-State Honor Choir
What a day!! We just got back from Jackson, MS where G.W. performed with the Elementary Honor Choir. The concert was great and we are SO proud of him!!
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Facing the Giants
This movie takes two of my favorite subjects (faith and football) and combines them into a wonderfully inspiring story that I absolutely love.
I highly reccommend that EVERYONE see this film!!
LTG
A Life Transformation Group is a way of obeying Jesus' command to make and multiply disciples without relying on gifted leaders. Two or three people who desire to grow in Christ can hear from God through prayer and scripture reading. They can encourage and support one another in obeying what they hear from God. They can also agree in prayer for salvation of loved ones. A Life Transformation Group typically meets once a week for an hour. It is gender specific (not co-ed), requires no curriculum or special training, and doesn't need a leader. Its members mainly do three things:
1. Confess sin to one another in mutual accountability
2. Read scripture
3. Pray for people desperately needing Christ
Qualifications for participating in a Life Transformation Group:
1. Desire to know Jesus more intimately
2. Faithfulness to the group
W h y T w o o r T h r e e ?
1. Relationship (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12):Life change does not happen in a vacuum; it happens in relationship with others. For most, it is difficult to have the kind of close knit bond that can change lives with more than three people at any one time. The best context for life-changing community is in a group of two or three.
2. Accountability (I Timothy 5:19):Few things in life get done without some degree of accountability. In the pursuit of godliness we need accountability to one another. It's hard to be accountable to more than two or three people at a time. We can find support with a small group who knows and understands our life.
3. Confidentiality (Matthew 18:15-17): Confession of sin is needed for cleansing, healing, and preparation for a life of service, and a safe place is essential. Two or three others of your same gender, who know and care about you and who are also sharing their own struggles, provide as safe a place as one can find.
4. Flexibility (Matthew 18:20)Two or three busy people can coordinate their schedules and meet almost anywhere.
5. Reproducibility (2 Timothy 2:2)Simple things multiply more easily than complex things. If we learn to multiply this basic unit of the church, we have a better chance to multiply more complex cell groups, ministries, and congregations.
THREE TASKS OF A L.T.G.:
1. Sin is confessed to one another in mutual accountability. These accountability questions are to be asked of one another in a weekly meeting that values honesty, confidentiality, and integrity (Proverbs 27:17, James 5:16, Galatians 6:1-5). Because it is easy to lose time talking about other things, the meetings start with the Character Conversation Questions (see the next page). Each person is given time to answer a question before moving on to the next question. The others listen and avoid trying to "fix it." Pray for one another.
2. Scripture is read in entire context and in community. Read the scriptures and record special insights from the Lord. The goal of the reading is not intense study; it is to hear from God and do what He says, for this is the definition of faith.
3. People who desperately need Jesus are prayed for strategically, specifically, and continuously. Each member of the Group is to identify two or three people in their sphere of influence who need Jesus. These people are prayed for throughout the week.
Those who begin to seek Christ become candidates for new Life Transformation Groups. Multiplication of the group can occur naturally and spontaneously – and in a way that the whole group can celebrate together.
STRATEGIC PRAYER FOCUSIdentify two or three people in your sphere of influence that you believe desperately need Jesus. List their names below so that you pray for each of them weekly
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
Lord, I pray that you draw these to Yourself. (John 6:44)
I pray that they will seek to know You. (Acts 17:27)
I pray that they hear and believe the word for what it really is. (I Thes. 2:13)
I ask You to prevent Satan from blinding them to the truth. (II Cor. 4:4; II Tim. 2:25-26)
Holy Spirit, I ask You to convict them of their sin and need for Christ's redemption. (John 16:7-14)
I ask that You send someone who will share the Gospel with them. (Matt. 9:37-38)
I pray that they would put all of their trust in Christ. (John 1:12; 5:24)
I pray that they confess Christ as Lord and grow in faith and bear fruit for Your glory. (Rom. 10:9-10)
CHARACTER CONVERSATION QUESTIONS:
These questions can stimulate character building conversations and confession of sin in the safe environment of honesty, vulnerability, confidentiality, and forgiveness. Close your time with prayer for one another's growth in these areas.
1. Have you been a testimony this week to the greatness of Jesus Christ with both your words and actions?
2. Have you been exposed to sexually alluring material or dishonoured another with sexual thoughts this week?
3. Has the desire for money, material possessions, or status at any time controlled your thoughts, conversations, or behaviour?
4. Have you damaged another person by words, either behind their back or face to face?
5. Have you been honouring, understanding, and generous in important relationships thisweek?
6. Have you given in to an addictive behaviour this past week?
7. Have you continued to remain angry toward another?
8. Have you secretly wished for another's misfortune so that you might excel?
9. Did you finish the scripture reading and hear from God? What are you going to do about it?
10.Have you been completely honest with me?
11.______________________________(Your personalized accountability question)
"Iron sharpens iron, So one person sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17
If this is something that interests you let me know and I'll get more information to you.
1. Confess sin to one another in mutual accountability
2. Read scripture
3. Pray for people desperately needing Christ
Qualifications for participating in a Life Transformation Group:
1. Desire to know Jesus more intimately
2. Faithfulness to the group
W h y T w o o r T h r e e ?
1. Relationship (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12):Life change does not happen in a vacuum; it happens in relationship with others. For most, it is difficult to have the kind of close knit bond that can change lives with more than three people at any one time. The best context for life-changing community is in a group of two or three.
2. Accountability (I Timothy 5:19):Few things in life get done without some degree of accountability. In the pursuit of godliness we need accountability to one another. It's hard to be accountable to more than two or three people at a time. We can find support with a small group who knows and understands our life.
3. Confidentiality (Matthew 18:15-17): Confession of sin is needed for cleansing, healing, and preparation for a life of service, and a safe place is essential. Two or three others of your same gender, who know and care about you and who are also sharing their own struggles, provide as safe a place as one can find.
4. Flexibility (Matthew 18:20)Two or three busy people can coordinate their schedules and meet almost anywhere.
5. Reproducibility (2 Timothy 2:2)Simple things multiply more easily than complex things. If we learn to multiply this basic unit of the church, we have a better chance to multiply more complex cell groups, ministries, and congregations.
THREE TASKS OF A L.T.G.:
1. Sin is confessed to one another in mutual accountability. These accountability questions are to be asked of one another in a weekly meeting that values honesty, confidentiality, and integrity (Proverbs 27:17, James 5:16, Galatians 6:1-5). Because it is easy to lose time talking about other things, the meetings start with the Character Conversation Questions (see the next page). Each person is given time to answer a question before moving on to the next question. The others listen and avoid trying to "fix it." Pray for one another.
2. Scripture is read in entire context and in community. Read the scriptures and record special insights from the Lord. The goal of the reading is not intense study; it is to hear from God and do what He says, for this is the definition of faith.
3. People who desperately need Jesus are prayed for strategically, specifically, and continuously. Each member of the Group is to identify two or three people in their sphere of influence who need Jesus. These people are prayed for throughout the week.
Those who begin to seek Christ become candidates for new Life Transformation Groups. Multiplication of the group can occur naturally and spontaneously – and in a way that the whole group can celebrate together.
STRATEGIC PRAYER FOCUSIdentify two or three people in your sphere of influence that you believe desperately need Jesus. List their names below so that you pray for each of them weekly
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
Lord, I pray that you draw these to Yourself. (John 6:44)
I pray that they will seek to know You. (Acts 17:27)
I pray that they hear and believe the word for what it really is. (I Thes. 2:13)
I ask You to prevent Satan from blinding them to the truth. (II Cor. 4:4; II Tim. 2:25-26)
Holy Spirit, I ask You to convict them of their sin and need for Christ's redemption. (John 16:7-14)
I ask that You send someone who will share the Gospel with them. (Matt. 9:37-38)
I pray that they would put all of their trust in Christ. (John 1:12; 5:24)
I pray that they confess Christ as Lord and grow in faith and bear fruit for Your glory. (Rom. 10:9-10)
CHARACTER CONVERSATION QUESTIONS:
These questions can stimulate character building conversations and confession of sin in the safe environment of honesty, vulnerability, confidentiality, and forgiveness. Close your time with prayer for one another's growth in these areas.
1. Have you been a testimony this week to the greatness of Jesus Christ with both your words and actions?
2. Have you been exposed to sexually alluring material or dishonoured another with sexual thoughts this week?
3. Has the desire for money, material possessions, or status at any time controlled your thoughts, conversations, or behaviour?
4. Have you damaged another person by words, either behind their back or face to face?
5. Have you been honouring, understanding, and generous in important relationships thisweek?
6. Have you given in to an addictive behaviour this past week?
7. Have you continued to remain angry toward another?
8. Have you secretly wished for another's misfortune so that you might excel?
9. Did you finish the scripture reading and hear from God? What are you going to do about it?
10.Have you been completely honest with me?
11.______________________________(Your personalized accountability question)
"Iron sharpens iron, So one person sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17
If this is something that interests you let me know and I'll get more information to you.
What a 4 year old taught me
The other day I was listening to my youngest son Miles (4 years old) pray before a meal. He has been taught since birth that we ought to thank God for our food, and for the longest time that meant reciting a prayer. It went like this:
"God is Great, God is Good. Let us thank Him for our food. By His hands we are fed. Thank you Lord for our daily bread."
Very simple and adequate. A simple memorized prayer.
Nowadays mealtime prayers are different. Miles has left the simple memorized prayer and is praying for many different things. While listening to him pray for the many things he felt was important to pray for, it dawned on me how simple it is to talk to God. You simply tell Him what is important to you. Miles prayed for the food, his family, his friends, our Christmas tree and decorations, and a variety of other things he deemed important.
Then it hit me how that my prayer life too many times was a simple repeat of what I prayed the day before and the day before that and the day... I think you get the picture. Instead of really talking to God, I was reciting a "memorized prayer" that was empty and meaningless. I don't know you if ever find yourself in this situation, but I learned a valuable lesson from the very one I should be teaching.
Thank you God for using Miles to teach me how to talk to you!!!
"God is Great, God is Good. Let us thank Him for our food. By His hands we are fed. Thank you Lord for our daily bread."
Very simple and adequate. A simple memorized prayer.
Nowadays mealtime prayers are different. Miles has left the simple memorized prayer and is praying for many different things. While listening to him pray for the many things he felt was important to pray for, it dawned on me how simple it is to talk to God. You simply tell Him what is important to you. Miles prayed for the food, his family, his friends, our Christmas tree and decorations, and a variety of other things he deemed important.
Then it hit me how that my prayer life too many times was a simple repeat of what I prayed the day before and the day before that and the day... I think you get the picture. Instead of really talking to God, I was reciting a "memorized prayer" that was empty and meaningless. I don't know you if ever find yourself in this situation, but I learned a valuable lesson from the very one I should be teaching.
Thank you God for using Miles to teach me how to talk to you!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
