6 months... It has been SIX MONTHS since the last post to Nehemiah's Nemesis!!! No excuses gang, although I have a boatload of 'em. Here's how it is: I haven't been faithful, I didn't set reasonable priorities, I_simply_didn't - period. You know what? It feels good to be tapping at the keyboard again... with purpose (and not the "purpose" of planting and harvesting in Farmville). So, here we go again...
Maybe, just maybe, I am getting back into a routine... I'm back at CCNO, back at The Disciple House, back to my Saturday morning accountability group, and I even gave a Gideon message at St. John Lutheran in Montpelier last Sunday. And (can you believe it?) I actually prepared and led the Sunday School lesson today (it was even today's lesson in our Life Matters quarterly).
For those of you who were physically present, let's review, and for those who were AWOL (as I was last week) here's an overview of our current lesson titled Fueled For Action.
Working from 2 Corinthians 5:67-21 (you'll have to look it up and read it yourself or find it here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Cor%205:6-21&version=NIV ), we looked at serving in the church for three reasons: We're expected to... We're compelled to... It's who we are!
First, we're expected to. When a member of The Team ( the Body of Christ is our team) isn't prepared, doesn't pay attention, or fails to take responsibility, someone else has to pick up the slack and the team suffers! We're expected to work cooperatively within a strategic plan allowing each one to use our unique, God-given gifts as He intended. At times we'll take the lead and at other times we'll depend upon others to exhibit their best efforts while we assume a supporting role. God expects us to serve and each will have to answer to Him for what we did with what He gave us. Admittedly, we don't like being held accountable, but each of us has a responsibility to the Body of Christ that must be fulfilled.
Let's pause here for a couple of question (hit the "comment" button to respond):
How well are YOU using the gift(s) God has given you? What happens when you don't serve as God intends?
Next, we're compelled to. Let's note that "compelled" does not mean "forced". Barb put this so well this morning saying "Christ's love for me moves me to want to serve him!" Christ's love, demonstrated by his willingness to die on the cross for us, should be sufficiently compelling that we want to serve Him in whatever ways we can, as often as we can! We can't earn God's grace and love, but, once we've experienced it, how could we not share the hope we have in Him with the world around us?
It's time to pose another question for you to consider:
How can YOU show your appreciation for what Christ has done for you?
I'll be back in a few days with a preview of next Sunday's continuation of this lesson. We'll explore this reality: It's who we are! We'll be asked that personal question again... What are YOU going to do with what God has given to you??? For now, read the passage from 2 Corinthians, ponder the questions posed in this entry, and, please... add your comments (and react to the comments posted by others)...
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Nehemiah's Nemesis - How Do I Know If I've Found the Right Person?
[Valarie is taking another turn this Sunday since Ron and Jeri are doing their Gideon thing again... She's chosen Chapter 29: How Do I Know If I've Found the Right Person?]
Your life has been full of people coming and going out of it. Some stay for awhile while others are in and out in the blink of an eye. This chapter is based on marriage, but let's also take it a different direction...
What about close friends? They are there for you as much as family and spouses. They know you in and out. They are your other half. Well, how do you know they are the right person for you? Are they making you a better person? Are you making them better? Or are you simply in each other's lives out of habit and convenience? Is this person someone God wants you to be with? Are they the "right" person?
Page 164 broke down the story of Isaac and Rebekah into steps of action (see the text). Using yourself and a close friend, or your spouse, have you followed these steps? The author of our book had made of list of traits he wanted in a wife. Surprsingly, this list is not far off a list you would want from a friend. What is on your list?
I think this is a great lesson that can take all aspects of our class member's lives and make them relate. What type of person do you desire to be friends with or marry. Is this type of person someone you would have thought of as a friend or spouse earlier in your life? Is this the person God wants you to be with forever? God doesn't want us to be alone and friends are just as important as a spouse.
That's how I see it and now it's YOUR TURN... post your comments and then come to Sunday School ready to discuss these matters together. Seeya on Sunday!
.
Your life has been full of people coming and going out of it. Some stay for awhile while others are in and out in the blink of an eye. This chapter is based on marriage, but let's also take it a different direction...
What about close friends? They are there for you as much as family and spouses. They know you in and out. They are your other half. Well, how do you know they are the right person for you? Are they making you a better person? Are you making them better? Or are you simply in each other's lives out of habit and convenience? Is this person someone God wants you to be with? Are they the "right" person?
Page 164 broke down the story of Isaac and Rebekah into steps of action (see the text). Using yourself and a close friend, or your spouse, have you followed these steps? The author of our book had made of list of traits he wanted in a wife. Surprsingly, this list is not far off a list you would want from a friend. What is on your list?
I think this is a great lesson that can take all aspects of our class member's lives and make them relate. What type of person do you desire to be friends with or marry. Is this type of person someone you would have thought of as a friend or spouse earlier in your life? Is this the person God wants you to be with forever? God doesn't want us to be alone and friends are just as important as a spouse.
That's how I see it and now it's YOUR TURN... post your comments and then come to Sunday School ready to discuss these matters together. Seeya on Sunday!
.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Nehemiah's Nemesis - Is Your Life Fallow or Plowed?
I know what you're thinking... too much "Farmville" on FaceBook for ol' Rongo! While that's probably true (Jeri's nodding her head) the title question is the right one to open our discussion this week. You weren't raised on the farm you say? You don't hold an Ag Management degree from THE Ohio State University? Okay, let's explain what we'll be talking about as we explore chapter 24: "Any Room Left in Your Margins?"
In Paths to Power, A.W. Tozer (go ahead - Google him) writes: "The fallow ground lies protected from the shears of the plow... safe and undisturbed... never does it see the miracle of growth." On the other hand, the plowed field has been "upset, turned over, bruised, and broken... all over the field the hand of God is at work in the... ever renewed service of creation." So, which are YOU, fallow or plowed?
Now let's enlarge the question of fallow or plowed to include a consideration of margins. You see, even Christians get caught up in a performance-driven society; we often seem to struggle with busyness. John Ortberg, former teaching pastor at the Willow Creek mega-church near Chicago (no Googling required), said in The Life You've Always Wanted: "I was afraid if I declined opportunities, they would stop coming, and if opportunities stopped coming, I would be less important, and if I were less important, that would be terrible... I didn't want to admit that I have severe limitations. I didn't want to admit my need for things like rest. I didn't want to admit that I wasn't Superman." So, are YOU trying to be Superman (or Superwoman)?
The "Seasoned Advice" for this lesson comes from Richard A. Swenson, MD. Dr. Swenson seemed to have the perfect life--a successful career, a wonderful family, a great church, involvement in the community. But he says "somehow, unexpectedly, everything had become a burden." He was suffering from constant headaches and his wife was always crying. Both were the result of an undeniable illness: OVERLOAD! Well now... does that sound familiar?
It's YOUR life, right? Sure it is. But,since God created us with human limitations, it is NOT the limits that are the enemy... OVERLOAD is the ENEMY! Our author (Colin Creel, remember?) tells us "if overload is the diagnosis, MARGIN is the TREATMENT." He defines margin as "the space between our load and our limit." He goes on to say that exceeding our limits will result in frustration, disorganization, and exhaustion. Have we touched a nerve yet? Getting a bit too personal, are we?
I wouldn't want to leave you in that state of agitation, my friends, so here's a hugely serious question to ponder: When nature (that's really God, by the way) presses the "pause" button are you relieved or frustrated? If you're relieved it's a sure bet that you "get it" and know to reduce the overload. And if you're frustrated (it is YOUR CHOICE, you know), well... you get to experience that frustration until you too "get it" and decide to see it God's way.
What's God's way, you ask? Let's acknowledge first that He certainly DOES ask us to walk that second mile, to carry others' burdens, to witness to His truth at any opportunity, and to teach our children to lead God-honoring lives. But doing this in a booked-full, exhausting, and overloaded manner is NOT God's way! We must have margin in our busy lives, for it is in that margin that we become available for His purposes. And that brings us to our last question: How will YOU create margin so that YOU are neither too idle (fallow) nor too busy (plowed)?
.
In Paths to Power, A.W. Tozer (go ahead - Google him) writes: "The fallow ground lies protected from the shears of the plow... safe and undisturbed... never does it see the miracle of growth." On the other hand, the plowed field has been "upset, turned over, bruised, and broken... all over the field the hand of God is at work in the... ever renewed service of creation." So, which are YOU, fallow or plowed?
Now let's enlarge the question of fallow or plowed to include a consideration of margins. You see, even Christians get caught up in a performance-driven society; we often seem to struggle with busyness. John Ortberg, former teaching pastor at the Willow Creek mega-church near Chicago (no Googling required), said in The Life You've Always Wanted: "I was afraid if I declined opportunities, they would stop coming, and if opportunities stopped coming, I would be less important, and if I were less important, that would be terrible... I didn't want to admit that I have severe limitations. I didn't want to admit my need for things like rest. I didn't want to admit that I wasn't Superman." So, are YOU trying to be Superman (or Superwoman)?
The "Seasoned Advice" for this lesson comes from Richard A. Swenson, MD. Dr. Swenson seemed to have the perfect life--a successful career, a wonderful family, a great church, involvement in the community. But he says "somehow, unexpectedly, everything had become a burden." He was suffering from constant headaches and his wife was always crying. Both were the result of an undeniable illness: OVERLOAD! Well now... does that sound familiar?
It's YOUR life, right? Sure it is. But,since God created us with human limitations, it is NOT the limits that are the enemy... OVERLOAD is the ENEMY! Our author (Colin Creel, remember?) tells us "if overload is the diagnosis, MARGIN is the TREATMENT." He defines margin as "the space between our load and our limit." He goes on to say that exceeding our limits will result in frustration, disorganization, and exhaustion. Have we touched a nerve yet? Getting a bit too personal, are we?
I wouldn't want to leave you in that state of agitation, my friends, so here's a hugely serious question to ponder: When nature (that's really God, by the way) presses the "pause" button are you relieved or frustrated? If you're relieved it's a sure bet that you "get it" and know to reduce the overload. And if you're frustrated (it is YOUR CHOICE, you know), well... you get to experience that frustration until you too "get it" and decide to see it God's way.
What's God's way, you ask? Let's acknowledge first that He certainly DOES ask us to walk that second mile, to carry others' burdens, to witness to His truth at any opportunity, and to teach our children to lead God-honoring lives. But doing this in a booked-full, exhausting, and overloaded manner is NOT God's way! We must have margin in our busy lives, for it is in that margin that we become available for His purposes. And that brings us to our last question: How will YOU create margin so that YOU are neither too idle (fallow) nor too busy (plowed)?
.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Nehemiah's Nemesis - What is Success?
[Jake will be leading us Sunday, September 13... He has chosen Chapter 14 - "What is Success in Practical Terms?"]
In this chapter, we find a definition of "calling" from The Call by Os Guinness (http://www.ttf.org/index/about/guinness/): A calling is "The Truth that God calls us to Himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion and dynamism lived out as a response to His summons and service." Got it? In other words, God's calling is the individual reason for every choice you make in serving Him.
So much of our time is wrapped up in our jobs, trying to earn money to live the lifestyle we want. If we aren't spending this time and energy doing what God has called us to do, we will not be satisfied. We read in Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." It doesn't matter what job you do, with a Godly attitude you will be a success in God's eyes if you rely on Him.
Why are you in the job/career that you currently occupy? Is it where God wants you to be or are your own personal desires keeping you there or pushing you in the wrong way? With so much time in our lives being spent in our work, answering these questions can have significant impact on our future direction in life!
Think about it and leave a comment...
.
In this chapter, we find a definition of "calling" from The Call by Os Guinness (http://www.ttf.org/index/about/guinness/): A calling is "The Truth that God calls us to Himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion and dynamism lived out as a response to His summons and service." Got it? In other words, God's calling is the individual reason for every choice you make in serving Him.
So much of our time is wrapped up in our jobs, trying to earn money to live the lifestyle we want. If we aren't spending this time and energy doing what God has called us to do, we will not be satisfied. We read in Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." It doesn't matter what job you do, with a Godly attitude you will be a success in God's eyes if you rely on Him.
Why are you in the job/career that you currently occupy? Is it where God wants you to be or are your own personal desires keeping you there or pushing you in the wrong way? With so much time in our lives being spent in our work, answering these questions can have significant impact on our future direction in life!
Think about it and leave a comment...
.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Nehemiah's Nemesis - Continuing "The Story"
Valarie led a small class this morning with support from Jake, of course, and Gideon, Ron and Jeri contributed their ideas as usual. It was Valarie's first time teaching and she handled it like a real pro... Way to go, Val!
We added to the comments various ones had posted on the previous blog entry (http://nehemiahsnemesis.blogspot.com/2009/09/nehemiahs-nemesis-whats-your-story.html) and considered some fresh questions as well. Much time was spent exploring whether we believed that a final rendering of our life's story would focus on our Christ-likeness.
Let's continue that discussion as we add our comments here... Will whoever tells about your life after you're gone emphasize your Christ-likeness? What do you hope will be remembered about the way you lived your life? And, what can you do NOW to impact how your story will be told?
.
We added to the comments various ones had posted on the previous blog entry (http://nehemiahsnemesis.blogspot.com/2009/09/nehemiahs-nemesis-whats-your-story.html) and considered some fresh questions as well. Much time was spent exploring whether we believed that a final rendering of our life's story would focus on our Christ-likeness.
Let's continue that discussion as we add our comments here... Will whoever tells about your life after you're gone emphasize your Christ-likeness? What do you hope will be remembered about the way you lived your life? And, what can you do NOW to impact how your story will be told?
.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Nehemiah's Nemesis - What's Your Story?
[Valarie chose the lesson for Sept. 6 - Ch. 30, "What's Your Story?" Have at it...]
Everyone loves a story... whether it be a romance, sci-fi, or mystery. Some like them as a hobby, a way to escape or as a coping mechanism. But have you ever thought of YOUR story?
Psalms 139:13-16 says "....all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Christ has written your story already. He knows the ending already. How great would that be if we could flip to the back of our book and see how it ends!?
Would you be afraid to read it? Ashamed? Proud? What would you change, if anything? How would you like the story to end?
.
Everyone loves a story... whether it be a romance, sci-fi, or mystery. Some like them as a hobby, a way to escape or as a coping mechanism. But have you ever thought of YOUR story?
Psalms 139:13-16 says "....all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Christ has written your story already. He knows the ending already. How great would that be if we could flip to the back of our book and see how it ends!?
Would you be afraid to read it? Ashamed? Proud? What would you change, if anything? How would you like the story to end?
.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Nehemiah's Nemesis - Begin... By Waiting?
{Jeri chose the lesson for Sunday, August 30, 2009
Ch. 28 "How Does One Wait on God's Timing"}
The theme for our lesson this week is waiting and it's based on Psalm 130:5-6. Verse 5 begins "I wait for the Lord." Are you waiting for the Lord to give you direction and guidance in the way He wants you to go? Or has the Lord already spoken to you and you're still waiting? Hmmm... Are you waiting or are you procrastinating? How do we know when to continue to wait and when to take action? We'll look at these questions and more. I'm waiting for your comments... be BOLD!
.
Ch. 28 "How Does One Wait on God's Timing"}
The theme for our lesson this week is waiting and it's based on Psalm 130:5-6. Verse 5 begins "I wait for the Lord." Are you waiting for the Lord to give you direction and guidance in the way He wants you to go? Or has the Lord already spoken to you and you're still waiting? Hmmm... Are you waiting or are you procrastinating? How do we know when to continue to wait and when to take action? We'll look at these questions and more. I'm waiting for your comments... be BOLD!
.
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