ENJOYING GOD.....Word...Experience......Paul in Acts:
There is a unique joy that belongs to a child of God (1 Chron 16:8-12, 23-36). You have no need to fear or to be anxious. Your God is powerful and mighty to save (Zep 3:17). Despite your circumstances you can "glory in His holy name" and your heart can rejoice as you seek Him and the strength He offers (1 Ch 16:10-11).
Linger on the words of this passage from 1 Chronicles. Let them seep into your heart as well as into your mind. You are coming to the Great God, in whose Presence are splendor, majesty, strength, and joy (1 Ch 16:27). He is worthy of all praise and glory. Communion with God may or may not change your circumstances, but your heart and your attitude will never be the same.
(In Acts Paul teaches us about joy. In spite of dire circumstances throughout his life, he has joy and can sing and praise God.)
Mother Teresa: "Once I asked my confessor for advice about my vocation. I asked, 'How can I know if God is calling me and for what He is calling me?'
He answered, 'You will know by your happiness. If you are happy with the idea that God calls you to serve Him and your neighbor, this will be the proof of your vocation. Profound joy of the heart is like a magnet that indicates the Path of Life. One has to follow it, even though one enters into a Way full of difficulties.' "
Where does all the joy originate? (Ne 12:43; Ps 43:4)
What produces joy in an unbeliever? (Acts 14:17)
What produces joy in a believer? (Acts 8:5-8; 16:34)
How is this joy produced in you? (1 Th 1:6)
Joy is a fruit produced by the Presence of the Holy Spirit. (Gal 5:22)
Jesus says an intimate relationship with Him ("remain in My Love") through obedience to God's commands is the Way to complete joy. (Jn 15:10-11)
Is your relationship with Jesus intimate enough to produce complete joy?
What can you do to receive this complete joy? (Jn 16:24)
What happens to your joy when trouble comes? How can you retain your joy in times of trial? (Ps 33:16-22)
Jesus knows life is full of trouble and suffering. (Jn 16:33; 17:13-15)
How is joy compatible with suffering? (Jas 1:2-4; 1 Pe 1:6-9)
The struggles and tragedies of this life need not affect your joy as a child of God. True joy is based on the spiritual realities of who God is and what He has promised. God IS Good and God IS Faithful----regardless of your situation. Paul learns this Truth and has much to sing and praise God about.
If your heart is bursting with joy today, give thanks! Speak aloud your joy and thanksgiving to God. Spend time praising and worshiping Him through music and prayer. He is worthy of your exuberant praise.
If you are longing for the kind of joy described in this study, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with His joy. The Spirit is the joy-bringer. "Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." (Jn 16:24) That's a promise from Jesus' own lips, and He is Faithful. (Women of Faith Study Bible)
AFFIRMATION;
I Share from the Goodness of God in my heart and in my life.
Quiet moments in communion with God help me Know what is mine to do and how to do it.
Sharing with others is a wonderful Way to give of the Goodness of God that I have had the privilege to experience. Thank You, Loving God. Thank You, Christ Jesus. Thank You, Holy Spirit. Amen. Jim
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
February 2008
Prayer Matters
a publication of the Prayer Ministry of Riverchase United Methodist Church
Matters about prayer because prayer matters
February 2008
Purpose: to claim and sustain Riverchase United Methodist Church as a "house of prayer for all people" (Isaiah 56:7) and to encourage one another in prayer
Prayer Focus for February: Our Youth
Here are some ways to pray for the youth of our church:
Ø for our youth to be shining examples for others to see the light of Christ working in them
Ø for the youth to be strong when presented with peer pressure issues and that they not only handle these situations with strength but also that their example motivate others to resist tempting situations
Ø for the youth to be teachable and open to learning and growing each and every day
Ø for youth in our church who are not currently involved in youth ministries
Ø for the youth and adult leaders to follow God’s will in their lives and in their leadership roles and to remain steadfast in their faith
Ø for our Senior High Youth Minister Jonathan Dills and his wife Jessica who have just adopted two girls (April, age 4 & Samantha age 5)
Ø for our Middle School Youth Minister Seth Moon
Ø for more adults to answer God’s call to serve in youth ministries
Scripture Focus: 1 Timothy 4:12
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but rather
set an example for the believers in speech, life, love, faith and purity.”
This is the focus scripture for the middle school youth and a great scripture to pray for all of our youth.
About RUMC Youth Ministries
Who leads the Youth Ministries? Jonathan Dills is our Senior High Youth Minister, and Seth Moon is our Middle School Minister. They are assisted in leadership by other adult leaders.
When do the youth activities take place?
The Youth meet weekly on Sundays and Wednesday evenings. On Sundays the Youth Choir practices from 4:00-5:00 and Jr. High Peeps meet from 5:00-6:45. RUSH-Sing, the Senior High choir practices at 5:45 and the Senior High Praise Band practices at 4:30. The Senior High Youth meet from 6:45-8:15 for activities, worship and a lesson. On Wednesdays the Middle School Youth meet from 6:00-7:00 for midweek and from 7:00-8:00 for separate boys and girls Bible studies. The Senior High youth meet from 6:30-8:00 for activities and Bible study.
What about Special Events for the Youth?
One of the biggest events for the youth is Discovery Weekend which will be February 15-17. This is a weekend retreat for middle-schoolers that includes times of worship, talks from high school students, small group discussions, and other fun events.
The youth will also be going on a Student Leadership Retreat in March, a camping trip in April, a Choir tour in May, a Mission trip for Middle schoolers to Louisiana with Student Life June 29-July 3, and a Mission trip for Senior Highs July 20-26. The Middle Schoolers and Senior Highs will participate in Big Stuf an awesome week of worship with great speakers, musicians and an incredible production in Panama City Beach. Big Stuf for Middle Schoolers will be July 15-19 and for Senior Highs June 16-20.
Let’s Cover Discovery Weekend with Prayer!
This year's theme is "Contact" and we are hoping that students will discover God's heart through scripture. There are other special events that occur during the weekend, including a prayer service on Saturday evening with the middle school students and their parents.
There are so many opportunities for prayer with this event! This can be such a challenging time for these students, so prayer for them in general to make wise decisions as they mature into young adults is crucial. Each student arrives on Friday evening at different places in his or her relationship with God, and with their own set of expectations and concerns. Pray specifically that the students will keep their hearts open to the message that God has for them individually during this time, as well as for them to draw closer to Him. Also pray for them as they go back to their schools and homes after the weekend for God's protection upon them and for them to continue the path He has marked for them.
God Answers
We ask many things of God through prayer, and He faithfully answers our prayers. If you have an answered prayer to share, please submit it to Sandyshock@aol.com. Sometimes seeing how God has answered the prayers of others gives us confidence and encouragement in our prayers.
Here are some of the prayers God has answered recently.
· A friend of an RUMC member has been on the church prayer list multiple times over the past two years. He has a blood cancer and has undergone two stem cell transplants and multiple rounds of chemo. Our prayers have been answered as this friend is now in remission!
· RUMC had prayer boxes placed at several gas stations nearby and received many prayer requests in these boxes. Recently, the gas stations asked for the boxes to be removed. Last week an employee at Sunny Foods on Helena Hwy called the church to ask that someone come and get the prayer requests. Despite the owner’s initial request to remove the prayer box, the employees at this gas station persuaded him of the importance of the prayer box and had a more permanent wooden box constructed for collecting prayers.
Another Mission to Pray for:
The last issue of Prayer Matters focused on praying for the missions of RUMC. Here is another mission to lift in prayer.
The Bridge at Riverchase...is a new nonprofit that umbrellas programs serving Hispanic people out of the Brown House, including the International Language Institute. Please cover the International Language Institute with your prayers, praying that more teachers will be found to grow this program. Pray for the students as they learn English so that they will fulfill their dreams of contributing to their communities culturally and economically, enabling their giftedness to shine through.
Pray-Up Events
There are lots of things happening at RUMC! We can pray for God’s presence, protection and provision for these upcoming events.
v February 12: RDS 4s Valentine Program
v February 15-17: Discovery Weekend
v February 24: Scout Sunday
v February 24: Upward Banquet
v March 2: Prayer Team Meeting
v March 7 & 8: TNT Consignment Sale
v March 7 & 8: Middle School and Senior High Student Life Concert (in Atlanta, GA)
a publication of the Prayer Ministry of Riverchase United Methodist Church
Matters about prayer because prayer matters
February 2008
Purpose: to claim and sustain Riverchase United Methodist Church as a "house of prayer for all people" (Isaiah 56:7) and to encourage one another in prayer
Prayer Focus for February: Our Youth
Here are some ways to pray for the youth of our church:
Ø for our youth to be shining examples for others to see the light of Christ working in them
Ø for the youth to be strong when presented with peer pressure issues and that they not only handle these situations with strength but also that their example motivate others to resist tempting situations
Ø for the youth to be teachable and open to learning and growing each and every day
Ø for youth in our church who are not currently involved in youth ministries
Ø for the youth and adult leaders to follow God’s will in their lives and in their leadership roles and to remain steadfast in their faith
Ø for our Senior High Youth Minister Jonathan Dills and his wife Jessica who have just adopted two girls (April, age 4 & Samantha age 5)
Ø for our Middle School Youth Minister Seth Moon
Ø for more adults to answer God’s call to serve in youth ministries
Scripture Focus: 1 Timothy 4:12
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but rather
set an example for the believers in speech, life, love, faith and purity.”
This is the focus scripture for the middle school youth and a great scripture to pray for all of our youth.
About RUMC Youth Ministries
Who leads the Youth Ministries? Jonathan Dills is our Senior High Youth Minister, and Seth Moon is our Middle School Minister. They are assisted in leadership by other adult leaders.
When do the youth activities take place?
The Youth meet weekly on Sundays and Wednesday evenings. On Sundays the Youth Choir practices from 4:00-5:00 and Jr. High Peeps meet from 5:00-6:45. RUSH-Sing, the Senior High choir practices at 5:45 and the Senior High Praise Band practices at 4:30. The Senior High Youth meet from 6:45-8:15 for activities, worship and a lesson. On Wednesdays the Middle School Youth meet from 6:00-7:00 for midweek and from 7:00-8:00 for separate boys and girls Bible studies. The Senior High youth meet from 6:30-8:00 for activities and Bible study.
What about Special Events for the Youth?
One of the biggest events for the youth is Discovery Weekend which will be February 15-17. This is a weekend retreat for middle-schoolers that includes times of worship, talks from high school students, small group discussions, and other fun events.
The youth will also be going on a Student Leadership Retreat in March, a camping trip in April, a Choir tour in May, a Mission trip for Middle schoolers to Louisiana with Student Life June 29-July 3, and a Mission trip for Senior Highs July 20-26. The Middle Schoolers and Senior Highs will participate in Big Stuf an awesome week of worship with great speakers, musicians and an incredible production in Panama City Beach. Big Stuf for Middle Schoolers will be July 15-19 and for Senior Highs June 16-20.
Let’s Cover Discovery Weekend with Prayer!
This year's theme is "Contact" and we are hoping that students will discover God's heart through scripture. There are other special events that occur during the weekend, including a prayer service on Saturday evening with the middle school students and their parents.
There are so many opportunities for prayer with this event! This can be such a challenging time for these students, so prayer for them in general to make wise decisions as they mature into young adults is crucial. Each student arrives on Friday evening at different places in his or her relationship with God, and with their own set of expectations and concerns. Pray specifically that the students will keep their hearts open to the message that God has for them individually during this time, as well as for them to draw closer to Him. Also pray for them as they go back to their schools and homes after the weekend for God's protection upon them and for them to continue the path He has marked for them.
God Answers
We ask many things of God through prayer, and He faithfully answers our prayers. If you have an answered prayer to share, please submit it to Sandyshock@aol.com. Sometimes seeing how God has answered the prayers of others gives us confidence and encouragement in our prayers.
Here are some of the prayers God has answered recently.
· A friend of an RUMC member has been on the church prayer list multiple times over the past two years. He has a blood cancer and has undergone two stem cell transplants and multiple rounds of chemo. Our prayers have been answered as this friend is now in remission!
· RUMC had prayer boxes placed at several gas stations nearby and received many prayer requests in these boxes. Recently, the gas stations asked for the boxes to be removed. Last week an employee at Sunny Foods on Helena Hwy called the church to ask that someone come and get the prayer requests. Despite the owner’s initial request to remove the prayer box, the employees at this gas station persuaded him of the importance of the prayer box and had a more permanent wooden box constructed for collecting prayers.
Another Mission to Pray for:
The last issue of Prayer Matters focused on praying for the missions of RUMC. Here is another mission to lift in prayer.
The Bridge at Riverchase...is a new nonprofit that umbrellas programs serving Hispanic people out of the Brown House, including the International Language Institute. Please cover the International Language Institute with your prayers, praying that more teachers will be found to grow this program. Pray for the students as they learn English so that they will fulfill their dreams of contributing to their communities culturally and economically, enabling their giftedness to shine through.
Pray-Up Events
There are lots of things happening at RUMC! We can pray for God’s presence, protection and provision for these upcoming events.
v February 12: RDS 4s Valentine Program
v February 15-17: Discovery Weekend
v February 24: Scout Sunday
v February 24: Upward Banquet
v March 2: Prayer Team Meeting
v March 7 & 8: TNT Consignment Sale
v March 7 & 8: Middle School and Senior High Student Life Concert (in Atlanta, GA)
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