Barriers or Bridges

Sometimes all we can think about are our personal barriers to a rich rewarding prayer life when God is saying, "Hey child, I've built bridges for you to cross" - and in the crossing is the power.

The Bridges:

•         WORKING
•         WAITING
•         WILLING
•         WRESTLING
•         WITHSTANDING
•         WORSHIPING

While we are enjoying our Christmas respite turn your attention to a book on prayer; Tom gave us titles of some good ones to read. When we all meet again we will hear what everybody has learned and what bridges they plan to implement. 

See you at Tom's house January 8th, 6:45 for our potluck and a prayer potpourri! More info has been sent to you in an email.  See you then and have a, warm, wonderful, joyous, inspirational and Christ centered Christmas.  Meribeth 

God Speaks on Prayer

We opened up a treasure trove of praying saints on Thursday night.  The hearts of some of God's most righteous people were exposed; Hurting hearts, needy hearts, disappointed hearts and desperate hearts. They all had one thing in common:  they needed to hear from God!

How many times have we been in a situation where our need was so great that nothing or no one could satisfy our need but God?  These would be desperate times - life shattering times - life changing times.  God wants to meet us there in those times.  In fact He has given us examples of how to pray, what to pray and where to pray.  All we have to do is be willing and pray.

God also wants us to pray when we aren't in desperation.  Pray when you get up, pray when you sit down, pray when you are happy, pray when you are sad, pray for everyone, pray for everything, pray, pray, pray!  These are God's words to us throughout the scripture.  I'm thinking this might be important - what about you?

There is so Much Time to Pray...and yet!

There are so many ways to pray.  There is so much time to pray...and yet!  The first thing God requires is a pure heart, a clean heart, a confessed heart.  Not that we have to be perfect when we come to Him, we don't, but we do have to be willing to let Him work on us and in us. 

I am already being challenged by this lesson on prayer. A long time has passed since I've examined my prayer life, yet I've known it needed work.  So, this is the first step in self-discovery; in God discovery.  Christ is calling us...me...to a fuller, richer, and more profitable prayer life. What a great time to draw closer to the Father and to the one who gave His life for us: CHRISTMAS!

It is great to know that Tom is taking us from Praying A to Praying Z and all we have to do is relax, follow along and have confidence that we will get there.  I thought about getting overwhelmed after our last gathering but I decided not to. Instead, I trust the Lord to do His work in me.  How about you?

GOD IS FAITHFUL!

GOD IS FAITHFUL!  We can't hear it enough, or say it enough.  God is faithful to do what He has promised, to be who He says He is, to perform all the things He has said He will perform.  He is not a man that He should lie but His Word is His bond. (Num 23:19  19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.  Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?) NIV

When you think of your earthly father does faithfulness come to mind?  My father was a man who made promises.  He fully intended to follow through with every one of them but life would always get in the way. I remember being disappointed so many times that I began to realize my dad wanted to do the things he promised but his business came first; the car came first, the yard work came first, doing other things came first.

God is not man and we can always count on Him to fulfill His promises. In God's economy His faithfulness to us comes first.  Next time we gather we can finish the sentence Tom gave us on the last page of our study on God's Faithfulness.  Mine will read:  I plan to reflect God's faithfulness in my life by being faithful in what I say and what I do.  Can't wait to hear what you write!

We will meet at the Gillespie's December 4th.  I'll email instructions that week.  Blessings, Meribeth  

GOODNESS - GRACIOUS

We say it all the time! [GOODNESS - GRACIOUS!]  Yet to really think about and respond to what it means to each of us personally will take a lifetime. How did you finish the sentence: Because of God's amazing grace and tender mercies I plan to...?

Don't think that what you do or don't do will have an impact on how God treats you or how much He loves you because it won't. God's mercy is always undeserved, always unlimited and always available to you. Understanding His mercy should always evoke a "GOODNESS-GRACIOUS!" out of those who know Him.

Study 5 is being unveiled this coming Thursday at the Kehn home...be there and plan to learn a little more about "The Faithfulness of God". We only have a few more studies before Christmas - don't miss any!

Finally got the Master Notes for study 4.  Click HERE for the link.

God's Wrath is Reserved for Whom?

Our study on God’s wrath was an eye opening exercise.  I thought of all the ways God could punish his enemies and then I realized at one time I was one of his enemies.  He didn’t take any of the opportunities he had to make my life miserable, instead he loved me and nurtured me and sought me out to be his own. 

We learned that believers need not fear the God of Wrath because he is also a God of patience, grace, love and righteousness.  If any non-believer wants to sidestep the wrath to come they need only to accept the payment that was made on their behalf. 

We looked at questions many people have about God's wrath. I wondered about those people who say that if God was a god of love He wouldn't send anyone to hell.  Then I wondered how that person would feel if their child was murdered and the murderer was allowed to go on living as though they hadn't done anything wrong? They accept that punishment must be meted out to the evil in our society; why then don't they realize that God does not want evil to inhabit the heavenly kingdom?  ( Could it be veiled brain matter)?  Spend time going over your notes and ask yourself how Wrath fits into the Kingdom of God.  

Get ready for next Thursday it will be a time of rejoicing.  Our study will be on The Mercy & Grace of God, I feel a lot more comfortable there. Ha!  Also do the Making it Personal on the last page of The Justice & Wrath of God section for our sharing time. 

If you need to fill in the blanks: Here are the links to Tom's Master Notes for Studies 1, 2 & 3.

The Justice & Wrath of God

We were a small group on Thursday night. We missed, Michael, Amy and Jennifer! But that is not to say we didn't have a meaningful time, as always, it was rich in the Word.  

We started moving toward understanding The Justice & Wrath of God.  Did you know that God's righteousness always tempers His justice?  One day our righteousness will be complete and we will reign with Christ and will be part of His ruling Kingdom.  Paul gives us a glimpse into the part we will play:  

1 Cor 6:2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?
NIV
1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we will judge angels?
NIV

Now this is inspiring and brings us back to who we are in Christ. We don't understand His judgements now but one day all will become clear.  Now we see in a mirror dimly, then face to face.

Don't miss this coming Thursday. It will be at the home of Tom & Barb starting at 6:45 p.m..  If you have time, do the first page of Study 3. The Justice & Wrath of God, front and back.  If you have blanks left over you can fill them in Thursday.  Can't wait to be re-united.

What Incredible LOVE!

Hello dear ones,

I hope this week finds you in a state of awe; awe for our only true God, the one who loves you with such passion that He extends goodness to you every day.  I've been memorizing 1 Corinthians 13 and it is almost incomprehensible that we are loved this way.  I understand why Paul prayed his incredible prayer to the Ephesians: 

Ephesians 3:17-19
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. NIV

If we only knew how much we were loved it would change our whole perspective on life and in relationships.  We wouldn't strive so hard to be accepted by others; it would be easier to forgive those who wrong us.  We would go around with a glow and others would wonder "what the heck have they been drinking?"  (Sorry, that snuck in there).  But, you know what I mean.

Keep each other in your prayers and know that each day brings us closer to the reality of heaven.  We are blessed.  See you Thursday at the Gillespie's house (6:45) and don't forget to write your letters so you can share with the group.  You are a blessing, Meribeth

THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD

We had a great study Thursday night. Thank you Tom for showing us just a wee bit about who God is and how He works in our lives.  We did a brief overview of Psalm 145; the first two verses bring us right into the throne room of God:

I will exalt you, my God the King;

I will praise your name for ever and ever. 

Every day I will praise you

and extol your name for ever and ever. 

Our next study is at the Gillespie's home. (Info below).  Come and learn what to call our God and Father when you're pouring out your heart to Him in prayer.

Michael, hey we missed you, we need you with us, we need your great smile, and your open sharing.  We are moving the time back to 7 p.m. so you can make it more easily.  

Gee, the door is never closed so anytime you want to saunter back into the fold, do so, it would make us happy. 

Jennifer, welcome into our little family.  It is hard to walk into the unknown and you were brave enough to do it.  You were a blessing and I hope you were blessed.

See all of you this week at the Gillespie's home: 2234 W. ST Exupery CT, Call Gary if you get lost 602-292-1429  7 p.m.

Mapquest Map

PS Don't forget to do your study!  Can't wait to hear about your discoveries.

"Do what you have to do-to be what you want to be"

Fellow disciples of Christ, I hope you are enjoying the indescribable gift of God’s grace as you go through each day.  This week I thought of how blessed we are as Christ followers.  We enjoy every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places and we have those blessings now-claim them as you walk in the here and now. 

On October 9th we will start on the Seven Spiritual Habits of an Effective Disciple.  Gaining new habits means getting rid of some old ones...are you ready?  Let’s hold each other accountable to be what God wants us to be.  My new favorite quote: "Do what you have to do-to be what you want to be".  Think now of what and who you want to be in Christ; commit it to HIM, write it down, tell a friend or the group.  I'm glad to be on this journey with you...see you at the Kehn’s home on the 9th at 6:30 p.m.. 

MUTTERING MEDITATIONS

I have been muttering quite a lot since Thursday night, "GOD IS IN CONTROL", has been my mantra and I'm still muttering it as I write this.  Life is so busy that I often find it hard to concentrate on getting into God's word, much less doing a real bible study; this makes me a perfect candidate for our Disciple-SHIFT evenings with Tom and Barb.

It was so good to meet each of you and hear the desires of  your heart; "encouragement" was what I came away with.  We are on a great adventure of discovery!  Don't let your own self-talk or the talk of the evil one dissuade you from moving forward in your walk with Christ.  He is the only one that can move you from where you are to where you want to be.  He is our encouragement, He is our hope, He is our truth and He will be at our Disciple-SHIFT gatherings.  We are meeting at the Kehn's again this week.  See you there!

Disciple-SHIFT Coming to The Crossroads!

Have you ever wondered what it would take to move your spiritual vehicle from the old dirt road, where you have to stay in first gear, to the highway where you can SHIFT into drive?

Come join us at Disciple-SHIFT.  A 29 week adventure that will take you on the road to discovery. 

First step: You will find out what being a disciple of Christ is and then you will begin discovering how you fit in. 

Attend the first two meetings to make sure this is for you!

Thursday, September 18, 2014
Tom & Barb Kehn
4423 W. Kenai Drive
New River, AZ 85087
Need more info call Tom: 602-463-2202

DIRECTIONS:
Go West on Anthem Way From the I-17 - Take the First Right Onto 43rd Ave - Take the Second Left Onto Old West Trail - Take the First Left Onto 43rd Dr. - Take the First Right Onto Kenai Drive - House is On the Left.