"… I reached out leisurely and affectionately to grab my son’s hand. I wanted to walk with him. He pulled his hand back … it was no longer cool to need Mom… I knelt down in the center of the walkway on the River Walk. I grabbed both his hands and simply said, "Will you hold my hand just because I love you, just because I am your mom?" [page 19] Have you found yourself in this situation? Your child is growing up and out-growing you? They want to do it their way and interpret our help as interference. But as parents, our actions only reflect the understanding that our child's life experiences have not yet adequately prepared them to choose in every situation. I remember as a 30-something my parents trying to help guide me in dealing with our children’s ‘teen’ issues. Their attempts made me mad. I was annoyed that they thought I didn't know the issues that were really at play. And I didn't want to listen. This reaction can also apply to our relationship with our Heavenly Father. His influence guiding our habits and/or our traits can sometimes feel like interference. We want to do what we want. We want to respond with what feels fair... Jenni also writes, "I had to redefine my hand for him. What seemed to be a hand that signaled discipline and failure was about something different; it was about a relationship." When our Father's love feels like discipline, we too have just yanked our hand away. But our Father is trying to maintain relationship, keep us safe, knowing our experiences have not adequately prepared us to choose in every situation... I can't think of any event in my life when God intended harm ~ or when His guiding was even remotely questionable. That’s important because it’s easier to give up control and hang onto That hand, when I stop and remember His plans are not only for my good ~ but also for my success and JOY! Romans 8:28 reads: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." How did you feel about this week's reading? What was inspiring?
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"In one moment I was free and safe forever. God moves. God saves. In that moment God flipped something dead to life. All the Christmases I sang around wreaths holding candles, all the stories and lessons snapped to life because they only make sense in the light of this person." [Page 11] You may have a similar conversion story. All of the sudden, out of nowhere, God did something unique and totally amazing in your life. He turned your world upside down, or maybe we should say, right side up. Spiritual things that never made sense before now are ringing with truth in your heart. Faith traditions or church services (that were previously boring) now make you glow hot inside! In fact, you want more. You want to sing. You want to tell everyone how much different you feel. You realize now in this precious moment ~ HOW MUCH YOU ARE LOVED. In our world today so many things call out for our time and attention. And for some of us, those distractions have made us feel like we're walking alone ~ buried in the crazy rush of life's necessities and never-ending list of things to do. Lifes feelings can become unreal. Faith and confidence in God that was once written in the heart now feeling useless, brittle and EMPTY ~ ready to be thrown away ~ like recycled plastic. But our God is a great God ~ His love continually giving us a fresh start, a new story. A story that's alive. God abiding in our heart again. Stop and listen. You will hear your heart beating again with His LOVE and LIFE and HOPE. Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul "We are all chasing something. Our hearts were made to run hard and fast after things that move us. But as a generation we are all beginning to stir and wake up, identifying that these words don't satisfy for long, especially when compared to God. If God is real, and we are going to live with Him forever, shouldn't He be everything? Anything is a prayer of surrender that will spark something. A prayer that will move us to stop chasing things that just make us feel happy and start living a life that matters. A life that is...Surrendered. Reckless. Courageous. If we truly know a God worth giving anything for, everything changes." ~ANYTHING September 22, 2016, we will begin our second book, Anything, by Jennie Allen. It's a marvelous book that's easy to read. It's relatable. And inspiring! The chapters are short [generally 10 pages or less] and so the weekly reading is realistic and doable. "This book was awarded The Christian Book Award®. This award program recognizes the highest quality in Christian books and Bibles and is among the oldest and most prestigious awards program in the religious publishing industry." The hard copy can be picked up in the SACC office or at the Front Desk on Sunday. Cost: $10.00 [There are also electronic and audio versions available online.] We hope you will join us next Thursday, September 22, when we begin Anything. |
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