February 21 Care Group

We began the evening with some beautiful sweet rolls and harvest bread made by Debbie! Then we sang about how our lives are really all about Him and the debt of love that we owe to our God.

First we discussed our prayer requests from last care group and heard some good reports. Tony read Romans 13:14 - But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Here are some themes discussed:

-It's encouraging to know that God is involved and working out His sanctification in our lives. It's humbling, but it's evidence of the fact that God IS at work in people's lives - in marriages, relationships, etc.

-A sign of God working through us is the non-judgmental way we can help each other through times of trial and temptation.

-We have no right to ever judge another no matter the sin, because it's guaranteed that we're struggling in another area.

-God's mission is to search out every pocket of sin in my life. He loves us so much. His mercy triumphs over sin.

-Sin is so much more detrimental than we realize. We must put on Christ because we don't have the equipment or the strength to combat sin and its effects.

-How do we put on Christ? By prayerful, purposeful effort to trust His word and then staying there. By worship: what a privilege to have time to worship Him during our days. By spending time in the Word.

-We get bombarded by the world. We are dependent on Him and are desperately in need of Jesus.

-We can take a moment in our stressful days to turn to Him for grace and strength and make godly decisions.

-We actively sow to the Spirit and not to our natural inclinations.

-God knows we have days where we feel empty and non-inspired. He is the source for all of our needs.

-Putting on Christ = loving other people. It leaves no room for judging and flippant reactions to other people's sins.

-We must remember how God loves us and how patient He is with us.

-Romans 13:8 "Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law."

-How does the love of God work out in our lives? In various ways, He motivates us to reach out to serve and love others in His name.

-Sometimes in His love He allows us to fail where we've judged others.

-People are hurting and need God - we need to pray for God to give us wisdom and love and time for others.

-Being satisfied in Him frees us from inhibitions that prevent us from loving others.

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...