February 7 Care Group

We sang to our faithful God to start the evening. Then we shared about prayer, what we've been seeking from God, an answered prayer, or an insight from God's word. Here are some themes:

-Ps 90: 14-15 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. Someone shared that God has answered a long-standing prayer for the reconciliation of a loved one. God loves to make us glad and answer prayers after a time of waiting.

-Another family reported that all their daily needs have been met according to the Lord's prayer "Give us this day our daily bread." We can't take His provision lightly. He is good!

-Ps 40:8 I delight to do your will, Oh God. Our lives are not for our own purpose and pleasure, though God is so kind to give to us and bless us with countless gifts along our way. We are here to give Him glory and serve His ultimate purposes here on earth.

-My life is not my own and through my trials I see more clearly that my life is for His glory.

-God uses our trials to focus us on God and limit our ability to sin in certain ways.

-Trials strengthen our graces, for example, He increases our patience and other godly fruit in us when we are in the midst of trials.

-Our love for one another is growing as we help each other through trials and hard times.

-We remain forever thankful for our children and the gift of God they are to us.

-The parable of the woman who persistently petitioned the unrighteous judge teaches us to keep asking and not give up.

John 14:12 He who believes in me, the works I do he shall do also, and greater works will he do...Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

The Syrophoenician woman's faith teaches us a great lesson. She was at first insulted by Jesus' reference to her as a dog not worthy of the children's bread. Then her faith was commended as she spoke of the dogs getting the crumbs that fall on the floor. So also we can have great faith to trust that God will hear our petitions. We should keep asking and not give up. Long-standing requests can make us keep coming to Him. They drive us TOWARD God, not away from Him.

-We can ask big things of God, not just the bare minimum. God is able to deliver completely!

-God wants to have natural communication with us. We can talk to Him as we would casually have an on-going dialogue with our earthly fathers.

I Thess 5:16-17 "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing." This can be done naturally as we go about our days for God is always with us.

Ps 73:28 The nearness of God is my good. God is always near but there is a particular nearness when we are seeking God for answers to prayer. Sometimes answers come from unexpected sources.

-We can't count God out in any circumstance and call it hopeless.

I Thess 1:8 "you turned to God from idols to serve the living God and to wait for His Son from heaven." God is able to provide in impossible circumstances, make roadways in the wilderness, streams in the desert.

-God provides for the birds of the air. He provides for our families and gives us wisdom as we seek to lead our children.

Col 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer. God gives us simple, consistent reminders to pray for one another. Driving past a brother's house, seeing them across the street, etc. can be God's way of dropping someone into our minds for a prayer.

-Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus! Don't get distracted by any extremes or controversies that draw you away from our Wonderful Lord Jesus!

January 17 Care Group

After singing about the "10,000 Reasons" that we can find to worship God, we started discussing Chapter 4 of our book called "I worship my television."

Tony asked us "What is an idol in your life that steals the place God should have as Lord?" Some answers given were:
-unreal expectations of a spouse
-things, home improvements
-relationships
-respect and appreciation from others

Then we discussed how God delivers us from these idols?
-The Holy Spirit can speak to our hearts with a convicting word and break the power of the thing in our hearts and minds.
-The Holy Spirit can discipline us and redirect our thinking toward Him.
-God's word focuses our thoughts
-repentance and turning to God for washing
-humility

To keep things in perspective when you're craving something, it's good to remember people that have it worse than you. Biblical examples first and then others we know.

God's word and His ways are REAL and we need to trust and believe Him completely, living like His word is REAL.

"I want to think more and more of Him, and less and less of myself."

"I must decrease and He must increase" = True Contentment

Psalm 87:7 - "All my springs of joy are in You."

"Is this the time in our lives when we can finally realize that God is everything and that "stuff" won't satisfy us?"

"Can we, in this season of our 50s and 60s, trust Him completely and not be distracted?"
-not without each other's help
-We need to be reminded of truth so that we don't stray and take His gifts for granted.

Struggles die as we spend time in prayer and submit ourselves to Him in earnest.

Romans 8:13 - We need the Holy Spirit to break the power of idols in our lives - we need God!

January 3, 2012 Care Group Dinner

We shared an Italian Christmas Fish Dinner together at the Versaces' home. It was a fun night of fellowship, laughing and good food. Here are some photos to prove it...

December 6 Care Group

Tonight we discussed Chapters 2 and 3 of our book. These themes were emphasized:

-The purpose of our lives is to glorify God.

-We exist for Him and not vice versa.

-God is so big and we are so small. It is amazing that He is mindful of us and chooses to show His love to us.

We also read Psalm 19:1, Isaiah 6:1-3, and Psalm 8:3-4.