Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008

TWG - July 30, 2008

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TWG - July 30, 2008
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Leviticus 13: 29-59; Psalm 65; Acts 19:1-22

Today is July 30, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. You are part of a devotional community where we put Christ first and our commitment is to spend time with each other and Time with God every day.

Sometimes it just doesn’t seem like I make much progress. Lot’s of good intentions, but… when you have to go to the engineer’s house (Ed’s) and it seems like he takes two hours to do nothing… no fun. Then it was to church where I worked on the new church directory with Jeannie. Susan stopped in to work in the office. I spent some time talking about VBS with Marcia. Esther and Isaiah came over for some hugs and candy. After work I played Tennis with Phil. It was a tie 1 set to 1. Then it was off to men’s meeting. We had a good time. I meant to make it to the men’s softball game, but time ran out on me. I put a picture of Bob and Jackie on the Blog at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com. Check it out. I ran into them at the Sanctus Real concert. Bob had been moved by the lord to donate a kidney to a needy Christian! Wow!

This week’s theme verse is Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

OK, just for sake of argument, let’s say we set aside one whole day of the week as the “Lord’s Day.” What in the world do we do all day long! Rest? (Not a bad idea when you are as old as I am). I want to suggest six activities that you should do every Lord’s day. You will find all six of these in Hebrews 10:19-25. #1 Enter God’s presence. #2 Endeavor to draw nearer to God. #3 Seek cleansing. #4 Resolve to be faithful. #5 Serve one other. #6 Encourage one another. These are essentials. The first two are mostly God focused. Three and four are more introspective and the last two are focused on others. That’s the sum of it. Our day should be focused on God, self and others. God should be first. True worship always begins with the Almighty. For you church really begins when you direct your heart toward God. That’s what Praise and Thanksgiving are all about. Praise is when you tell God just how great he is. Thanksgiving is when you give God credit for the many great things he has done for you. This can be done in prayer and in song, but mostly it’s done in the sincerity of your heart. You must choose to center your thoughts on the Almighty God and place him on the throne of your life just as he is on the throne of the universe. It means that you choose to leave the distractions of your neighbors and the petty conversations and whisperings out of your worship experience and concentrate on God alone. The second part of your worship experience should be to shine an intense spotlight on your own heart. Listening to the Holy Spirit while we pray and while the Word is taught is a skill we must earnestly develop. At times God will convict us of sin, and we should immediately confess it, resolve to forsake it and determine to live a life of faithfulness. Self evaluation and a willingness to let the Holy Spirit speak is crucial to the Lord’s Day. The third aspect of the Lord’s Day Worship is a focus on others. You have not really done church unless you have come full circle to the needs of the body of Christ. Sunday is a day of service. Every Christian should make it their goal to do works of mercy and encouragement on Sunday. Some will teach, others will sing, still others will “serve tables” in a ministry of helps. But the day of service does not end after the morning service. Every Christian ought to be engaged in works of love and mercy outside of the Worship Service. This is a great day for visiting the sick and shut in. It is also a day for intentional evangelism. Whatever works of service God has gifted you to do… make sure you practice your good works on this day to your family, your church and your community. All for the purpose of encouragement and evangelism. That will keep you so busy you won’t have time to wonder what in the world does a Christian do on Sunday!

Dear Father: Help me to hold your day as holy. Help me to worship you in spirit and in truth. I want to really have this important three part focus that puts you first, prepares my heart for needed changes and then serves others. Please help me to keep Christ the center of my Sunday.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and warning one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:34 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

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