The 4th grade Social Studies class did a very fun project this year. They each began a journal that was to travel around the country. The hope was that it would eventually find it's way back home so the class could see where all the journal had been. I don't know how all the other journals did--I'm told some didn't make it back and some saw more of the country--at least one made it to all 50 states. I do know our daughter's journal made it to people who did a great job writing all about their state and even including some information from the Internet or postcards. Not all the journals coming back were filled--not even the one that made it to all 50 states. This journal was completely full and even had pages added to the back. Thank you Aunt Cassie for setting the tone. What an amazing way to learn all about our country. It definitely makes us want to visit in person someday. :)
Places the journal traveled:
Kansas
Oregon
Colorado
Alaska
Ohio
Illinois
Washington D.C.
New York
Texas
Virginia
North Carolina
Nevada
Pennsylvania
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Massachusetts
"That's our goal: to increasingly encounter God in such a way that we are radically changed. When we get glimpses of who he is, it changes our perspective. Our priorities shift and our attitudes bend to reflect His nature. His mission becomes much more relevant, His character becomes much more beautiful and His presence becomes more real. He becomes the basis of our lives, and wisdom flows freely from such a foundation."--from NIV Once-A-Day 31 Days of Wisdom
That is definitely MY GOAL. How do you make that happen? Daily encounters with God are an absolute must. We cannot think that attending church once or twice a week and not meeting with God any other day will do it. We must spend time in prayer and in His Word DAILY. What are some of the ways you have found to make this happen? Time in His Word is a must for me. Reading other devotion books is always good and makes me think, but the Bible is where I feel that God most often communicates with me. What devotion books are a "must read"? I would recommend Not a Fan by Kyle Idelman and anything by Max Lucado. http://angel-memoriesforgotten.blogspot.com/2012/02/book-review-not-fan-by-kyle-idelman.html Those get me inspired and lead me to the Word.
It helps that we are doing The Story in Sunday School--I not only get to study a new part of the Bible weekly--I also get conversation with other Christians. That definitely gets my mind going. "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. " Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)
What are some of the ways you "increasingly encounter God"? When I have a difference of opinion with someone, I'm trying to take it to God, search His Word and talk to Him in prayer. I'm trying to let Him help me determine the correct way of looking at things and not get mad. This is, of course, easier said than done. I am human and full of faults, but I am trying. Keep me accountable. When we disagree, let's both take it to God and see what He has to say.
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"All it takes is 20 seconds of insane courage and great things will happen. I promise"--Benjamin Mee We Bought a Zoo
I've been thinking for the past several days if the necessary courage in my life really only takes 20 seconds. I've decided it all depends on how you look at it. It takes 20 seconds or less to muster up the courage to begin something. It usually takes longer than 20 seconds to complete whatever it is. But, if I have 20 seconds of courage to start a song or strike up a conversation, it's easier to keep going. It took 20 seconds of courage to begin my college music audition. It took longer to complete it, but it did change my life. It took longer than 20 seconds to complete the GRE or my graduate program interview, but only 20 seconds of courage to start. I didn't count how long it takes to walk down the aisle, but it's probably around 20 seconds and that changed my life dramatically. So, I've decided that it really does only take 20 seconds to muster up your courage to take the first step. And, great things will follow. It only takes 20 seconds to ask for forgiveness and decide to follow Jesus. And, I promise great things will follow.
When have you had 20 seconds of courage and had something great happen? What great things have happened in your life because of courage?
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Last week was the National Day of Prayer and got me thinking a lot about prayer the past few days. What exactly is prayer? It is talking to God, but is there a certain way we have to do it? Are there certain words we must use? Is there a formula we have to follow?
I don't think so. Praying is talking to God. That means talking to God like you would talk to anyone. Expressing what you're feeling and needing. It means asking questions about whatever you don't understand. It also means listening. It means being still and listening for God. It means reading His Word and then being still to listen for a response. Jesus gave us an outline for prayer in the Lord's prayer, but I don't think it necessarily means quoting it word for word. It means praying all the parts of the Lord's prayer.
I did manage to find a National Day of Prayer service at the Ellis County Courthouse. Thank you Ellis County Ministerial Alliance. We prayed together for seven different areas: Government, Church, Military, Family, Education, Media, and Business. There is something to be said for people agreeing in prayer and all praying together for a common goal. This is the what we do in our Moms in Prayer meeting. We pray for our children and our school. It bonds us as moms and keeps us focused on our children.
In the prayer guide we received, it listed an outline for prayer: P--Praise
R--Repent
A--Ask
Y--Yield
Moms in Prayer uses a 4-Step Model: Praise
Confession
Thanksgiving
Intercession
It's important when we pray that we don't use God as the cosmic vending machine in the sky, but remember to praise Him for Who He is and what He has done. Don't forget to confess, ask forgiveness, and ask for help to live life differently in the future. But, most of all, don't forget to "yield" or be still and wait for God to talk back. I think prayer is a conversation and a conversation is not one sided. True conversation only happens when there is a give and take and in order for that to happen we must be still.
The National Day of Prayer is great and praying together is so important. But, we must not forget to pray daily--not just on the National Day of Prayer.
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