ENGAGE: Matthew 23:27-28

Discovering and engaging in the God-given purposes for your life. This includes understanding gifts, understanding passions, recognizing needs, and engaging in ministry purposefully based on these foundations.

Wow! Today's Day by Day for Emotionally Healthy Relationships is spot on and uncovers cringe-worthy areas in my life - areas where I've slipped into the "elder son" area of the prodigal son story.

The elder son is literally a picture of the Pharisees in many ways. Nenri Nouwen describes it this way:

"I recognize the elder son in me. Often I catch myself complaining about little rejections, little impolitenesses, little negligences. Time and again I discover within me that murmering, whining, grumbling, lamenting, and griping that go on and on even against my will."

How can we engage the world with purpose when we are struggling with our own sin and pharisaical attitudes? The answer is … by God's grace, and by more and more self-awareness. We become engaged with purpose when we allow the amazing love of God to be our strength and the very source of what we give to the world around us.

To Consider: (From Emotionally Healthy Relationships Day by Day - Peter Scazero)

"In what areas of life might your pursuit of "getting things done" or "doing right things" be more important to you than seeking a loving relationship with God and others?"

For Further Thought:

Are You the Elder Son?

Comments

We Need Your Help: (Prizes included)

We need your help! On Sunday, we'll be discussing whether it is possible to have a personal relationship with God. If your answer is, "yes", we would like to know about yours. Please take 5 minutes to fill out a very simple form with some questions about your "Life with God". CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE FORM Here is the good news! On Friday at Noon, we will select Three local submissions at random and each one will receive a very nice "River Oaks Church" tumbler! What could be better than that? You need to get your information in ASAP. Name and email are not required on the form, but if you'd like a prize, you'll need to enter both. Thanks! Pastor Kevin

Why does God allow pain and suffering?

Sunday's question is one of the hardest ones to answer, and it is one that all who have ever lived have asked or wondered. You can watch the message below, or listen here . Some questions to consider this week: Share with your family or friends your own times of suffering. Who do you know who is suffering now? How can you connect with them and be a comforting presence? Where can you make the choice in your own life to choose "better" over "bitter"?

The Fall Feasts of God: The Feast of Booths

I LOVE God's story! I always love reviewing the rich truths and prophetic realities of God's Feasts (appointed times). In Leviticus, very early in the history of the nation of Israel, God appointed seven times each year when His people would stop what they were doing and remember. The feasts served as a reminder of what God had done, how He had provided, and what He was going to do in their life as His people. For many Christians today, we have forgotten or ignored these amazing feasts. For some, we feel that these were for the Old Testament, or are limited to the Jews. The truth, however is that these feasts and celebrations are so rich in truth and history that every believer can see their faith deepened if we'll just stop what we are doing and choose to celebrate the feasts. In doing so, we are welcomed into the realities of God's eternal story as well as His story He has been writing since the earth was created. On Sunday, we looked at the final Fall Feas

River Oaks Church: Live - Connect - Engage

Search This Blog