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Tuesday, January 26, 2016
New Date for Renewal Sunday
January 31, 2016
Here's a final look at the commitments of being "in" as a CLC Family member and why they matter.
- Sunday Worship: Showing up matters. For Kathy and me it matters that everyone of our 15 member extended family shows up at family gatherings. And it matters to each of them. Being in the presence of one another is HUGE. Its say's "I'm in with you". Not showing up means that family is simply on the back burner to other priorities and not only does the family suffer from that but so does the one who is missing.
- A Small Group: Sunday mornings include too many people for anyone to connect deeply with on any meaningful level. This commitment means that you will seek out your place of connection with believers in a way that is real and which grows your relationship with Christ and with others. It is in deeper connection with other believers that Christ grows us up.
- Serve: It may be that your small group is a service group, a group, for example where you team up in coaching a sports team, or where you team with others in serving and loving our teens on Thursday night. It is serving and giving where your faith comes alive. When one only receives, one almost inevitably finds that faith and vibrancy decreases and one fades from Family of God. When one serves, especially in the area of ones giftedness, that's when faith comes alive and stays alive.
- Bible Reading and Prayer: Find your own way to do these, but the commitment to these is crucial to your growth. To be directed by the Holy Spirit always means to be directed to the words of God and Jesus which are found in Scripture. As to prayer, I love John Wesley's quote, "God does nothing except in response to believing prayer"
- Giving: Money is the touchiest of subjects for many. Yet I can't think of any Christian practice that tests our faith like this one. Wrestling with how much to give to God each month brings out my worst attitudes and causes me to make decisions that seem impossible. There is only one place in the bible that tells us to test God. I can tell you that those who take God up on this test, including Kathy and me, find that scripture is exactly right.
"Lord, guide me in this. I know that living as Christian means a giant leap in changed priorities. It means being transformed from being a taker and receiver into a giver of my time and of my resources. Lord transform not just my heart but also my behaviors, actions and habits. By the motivation of Your Spirit. Amen"
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This is a regular communication from Christian Life Center.
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