BIG LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH
  • It's All About Jesus
    • Jesus' Story
    • Jesus Welcomes Everyone
    • Judgement-Free Faith
  • Come to Worship
    • What to Expect
    • Where We Meet
    • Nursery
    • Kids
  • About Us
    • Church Values
    • Church Rules
    • Contact the Pastor
    • Church History
    • Belief Statement of the Christian Church
    • F.A.Q.
  • Messages
  • For You
    • Baptism
    • Serve & Connect
    • Devotional / Bible Study >
      • Lent
      • Christmas Resources
    • Youth Ministry
    • Prayer Requests
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Easter Worship
    • Christmas Eve By Candlelight
  • Give Now

Keeping Track of What Matters

2/6/2014

 
Do you keep a journal?

I started a diary last week, though it's more of a 21st century journal.  Basically, I use an app on my iPad that amounts to a Word document.  It is nothing revolutionary, but I have found myself writing at least five entries a day.  It is easy for me to pop open my iPad and begin writing after a meeting, after worship, to express a prayer, or remember a relevant thought for the newsletter.  But this simple habit that is only a week old has opened my eyes in a new way.  Looking back over one week of entries I see how often I acknowledged where God was working - working in me, in others, through conflict, and even in the mundane matters of youth sports and snow removal.  When I cultivated the habit of reflection, I was much more aware of what was already going on.  I will admit I often lack in this area, at a cost to my faith.    
 
Over this past year people have expressed to me in a variety of ways their desire to know God.  In matters of family, finances, personal conflict, and work load, you and others want God's wisdom and direction.  These are righteous desires.  Yet, what I find myself often saying to folks is, 'God is not the problem'.  You are.  I am.  We all are.  We all feel like we lack God's wisdom and direction if we do not cultivate the habits of listening, reflection, prayer, and worship.  We cannot speed date our way to knowing God.  We ought not be shocked that we feel as if God is distant when the habits of the heart that belong to him are not lived.  
 
But as I was reminded this week, and I know it from my own failure, a personal relationship with God is a cumulative experience.  The more we listen, worship, and study His word, the more we begin to see his work all around us.  It's not as if God withdrew himself from us - ever.  We are the ones who withdraw, wanting God on our terms, then blaming Him when we aren't trained to see Him.  Yet there is good news.  REALLY good news.  It doesn't have to stay that way.    
 
Today is the perfect day to begin to see God at work all around you.  In prayer and worship, reflection and scripture, journaling and talking to a friend- these habits of the heart wake us up inside and give us eyes to see what God is already doing all around us.  You do not need to wait on an iPad app to draw closer to God.  You simply need to give God a willing heart that is seeking him in intentional ways.  
 
One of the intentional ways we open ourselves to God is weekly worship.  This Sunday we continue in our series "It's (Not) Personal."  We will build off the powerful message we heard from Roger Jenks last Sunday and explore what it means to be our created-in-the-image-of-God self when we could potentially meltdown.  I look forward to seeing you this Sunday at 9:30 or 11 AM.  
 
Since there is actually no snow forecasted (at the moment) for Sunday, why not invite a friend to come with you?            

Geoffrey Mitchell
Lead Pastor


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    Devotionals

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    April 2019
    February 2018
    August 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

Worship Sundays 9:45 AM        Midweek RePneual Bible  Study  - WED 7 PM Live stream 

197 E. Washington St. Oswego, IL 60543 
(630) 640-2195

Picture
Picture

Real Faith .  Real People . Real Freedom
Celebrating 200 years of independent, authentic faith in Jesus.

It's for you.
www.facebook.com/Biglifecc
Contact the Pastor
All content is copyright property of PneuProject and may not be extracted or downloaded.
  • It's All About Jesus
    • Jesus' Story
    • Jesus Welcomes Everyone
    • Judgement-Free Faith
  • Come to Worship
    • What to Expect
    • Where We Meet
    • Nursery
    • Kids
  • About Us
    • Church Values
    • Church Rules
    • Contact the Pastor
    • Church History
    • Belief Statement of the Christian Church
    • F.A.Q.
  • Messages
  • For You
    • Baptism
    • Serve & Connect
    • Devotional / Bible Study >
      • Lent
      • Christmas Resources
    • Youth Ministry
    • Prayer Requests
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Easter Worship
    • Christmas Eve By Candlelight
  • Give Now