see it for yourself...
You can see last Tuesday's 7/22 meeting online here.
Jun 19, 2004
Jun 18, 2004
notes as promised...
PRAYER: A REMIX part one
WHO IS BLESSING WHO?
*The way we have grown accustom to praying is this: bless me, be with me, watch over and protect me, forgive me of my many sins. It all ends with ME! A new way that we should pray is this: Lord I want to bless You, live through me and use me.
*Converse with God instead of regurgitating cliche phrases that you've heard.
*Pray "New Testament" prayers... pray in light of God's grace.
OLD TESTAMENT
*Genesis 12:2-3 (God's promise to Abraham) God's idea of blessing: "leave your country, leave your family, and leave your father... go where I'm leading you and I will bless you."
*Numbers 6:22-27 (blessing of Aaron)
Why not pray this prayer? Because this prayer was fulfilled in Jesus Christ on the cross! ALL the blessing came through Him.
NEW TESTAMENT
*Galatians 3:14 "That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
We got the blessing through Jesus. We HAVE the Abrahamic blessing! (Even us Gentiles!) Our prayer should be "Thank You for the blessing you have given me!"
*Ephesians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ."
Christ HAS blessed us! It doesn't just mean in heaven; in means in the spiritual dimension of life that is just as real as the physical.
*John 1:16 "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace."
We HAVE received the fullness of his grace. "Grace for grace" means one blessing, after another, after another!
*The key is recognizing that we possess the blessing of God.
*Asking God for a blessing is like wanting a present when He's already given us every gift we could ever ask for. He's saying "Tap into the resources that are available to you... open your eyes!"
*Romans 8:17 -> we're sitting at the right hand of God!!! yet we are still saying, "God, will you give me a blessing?"
*All of the prayers in the Bible after Calvary are blessing God rather than asking for His blessing.
*The proper view of being blessed by God is asking Him to use you and what you have so that you can bless Him more.
*(side note... free of charge!) The author of "The Prayer of Jabez" has the proper view of blessing... after making a ton of money from his book, he moved to Johannesburg, South Africa to serve God.
PRAYER: A REMIX part one
WHO IS BLESSING WHO?
*The way we have grown accustom to praying is this: bless me, be with me, watch over and protect me, forgive me of my many sins. It all ends with ME! A new way that we should pray is this: Lord I want to bless You, live through me and use me.
*Converse with God instead of regurgitating cliche phrases that you've heard.
*Pray "New Testament" prayers... pray in light of God's grace.
OLD TESTAMENT
*Genesis 12:2-3 (God's promise to Abraham) God's idea of blessing: "leave your country, leave your family, and leave your father... go where I'm leading you and I will bless you."
*Numbers 6:22-27 (blessing of Aaron)
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: "The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace."' "So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them."
Why not pray this prayer? Because this prayer was fulfilled in Jesus Christ on the cross! ALL the blessing came through Him.
NEW TESTAMENT
*Galatians 3:14 "That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
We got the blessing through Jesus. We HAVE the Abrahamic blessing! (Even us Gentiles!) Our prayer should be "Thank You for the blessing you have given me!"
*Ephesians 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ."
Christ HAS blessed us! It doesn't just mean in heaven; in means in the spiritual dimension of life that is just as real as the physical.
*John 1:16 "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace."
We HAVE received the fullness of his grace. "Grace for grace" means one blessing, after another, after another!
*The key is recognizing that we possess the blessing of God.
*Asking God for a blessing is like wanting a present when He's already given us every gift we could ever ask for. He's saying "Tap into the resources that are available to you... open your eyes!"
*Romans 8:17 -> we're sitting at the right hand of God!!! yet we are still saying, "God, will you give me a blessing?"
*All of the prayers in the Bible after Calvary are blessing God rather than asking for His blessing.
*The proper view of being blessed by God is asking Him to use you and what you have so that you can bless Him more.
*(side note... free of charge!) The author of "The Prayer of Jabez" has the proper view of blessing... after making a ton of money from his book, he moved to Johannesburg, South Africa to serve God.
Jun 16, 2004
7/22 report...
I absolutely love 7/22! It was so good last night. I think for me it was more than the actual event that was awesome; it was awesome how God made everything "connect" last night. Matt Redman was leading worship, and one of the first songs we did was one of his new ones. There was a phrase in it that says "Lord, my ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you," which was a phrase that I had read just the day before! It really hit me when I read it on Monday, and then it was really reiterated when I heard it in the song on Tuesday. How cool! Then, Louie spoke. His topic fit in perfectly with what I had been reading from a book my Sunday school teacher gave me. Louie spoke about adjusting the way we approach God in prayer. It's actually a three-part message that he'll be completing throughout the summer sessions. Tomorrow I'll try to post some of the notes I took. It was really awesome, talking about how we need to bless God rather than asking Him to bless us. Anyway, more on that tomorrow. Erin came with me last night. I'm really glad she did, too. I think this is the first large-scale "modern worship" thing she's been to. She said she goes to the contemporary service at her church (when she's not working), but I'm pretty sure this was the largest number of Christian young people she's ever seen all in one place! She seemed to enjoy it, and I hope she comes again next month with me. Well, that's about all. If you're ever in the Atlanta area, definitely check into going to a 7/22 meeting. Later.
I absolutely love 7/22! It was so good last night. I think for me it was more than the actual event that was awesome; it was awesome how God made everything "connect" last night. Matt Redman was leading worship, and one of the first songs we did was one of his new ones. There was a phrase in it that says "Lord, my ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you," which was a phrase that I had read just the day before! It really hit me when I read it on Monday, and then it was really reiterated when I heard it in the song on Tuesday. How cool! Then, Louie spoke. His topic fit in perfectly with what I had been reading from a book my Sunday school teacher gave me. Louie spoke about adjusting the way we approach God in prayer. It's actually a three-part message that he'll be completing throughout the summer sessions. Tomorrow I'll try to post some of the notes I took. It was really awesome, talking about how we need to bless God rather than asking Him to bless us. Anyway, more on that tomorrow. Erin came with me last night. I'm really glad she did, too. I think this is the first large-scale "modern worship" thing she's been to. She said she goes to the contemporary service at her church (when she's not working), but I'm pretty sure this was the largest number of Christian young people she's ever seen all in one place! She seemed to enjoy it, and I hope she comes again next month with me. Well, that's about all. If you're ever in the Atlanta area, definitely check into going to a 7/22 meeting. Later.
shop life...
Screaming saw. Whining sander. Mental radio attempts to and occasionally succeds at drowning them all out. Body focused in repetitive, mindless action, with mind free to wander as it pleases. Rehearse choir song... recall events of previous evening... plan for the future.... Song lingering from car radio hours ago. Twelve drawers done; on to the vanities. Song still lingers. Fumes replace breathable air. Finish this strip, then you can breathe.... Ah, much better. Sudden slap of cherry and pine on concrete. Wish they wouldn't do that. Men. A woman would find a better way. Lunch, at long last. Table full of mixed culture. American lunch meat and pizza; Mexican beans, rice, tortillas, and what-not. Divided conversations. Pale, humorus attempt at blending. Back to work. Choking afternoon heat. Sweltering. Sweat-saturated. Thick and relentless. Pounds should be dropping off me daily... waiting for that to happen. Heat replaces the usual mental freedom. Mornings are better. Nearing the finish. One more hour. What? Run an errand?! A break from the heat... I'd love to! Jugs of water switched and delivered... Homeward bound. Hasta manana.
Screaming saw. Whining sander. Mental radio attempts to and occasionally succeds at drowning them all out. Body focused in repetitive, mindless action, with mind free to wander as it pleases. Rehearse choir song... recall events of previous evening... plan for the future.... Song lingering from car radio hours ago. Twelve drawers done; on to the vanities. Song still lingers. Fumes replace breathable air. Finish this strip, then you can breathe.... Ah, much better. Sudden slap of cherry and pine on concrete. Wish they wouldn't do that. Men. A woman would find a better way. Lunch, at long last. Table full of mixed culture. American lunch meat and pizza; Mexican beans, rice, tortillas, and what-not. Divided conversations. Pale, humorus attempt at blending. Back to work. Choking afternoon heat. Sweltering. Sweat-saturated. Thick and relentless. Pounds should be dropping off me daily... waiting for that to happen. Heat replaces the usual mental freedom. Mornings are better. Nearing the finish. One more hour. What? Run an errand?! A break from the heat... I'd love to! Jugs of water switched and delivered... Homeward bound. Hasta manana.
Jun 15, 2004
7/22...
I'm going to 7/22 again tonight. I'm looking forward to it. I'm sure it'll be awesome once again. Sorry you couldn't be here for it, Allie! I invited Erin from two doors down. She's my age and is home for the summer from college. I don't know her very well, but Marti has been bugging me to hang out with her, so I figured this would be something cool that we could do.
Other than that, this week has been a little on the boring side. The family is in Montana, so it's just me and Marti's parents at the house. Work has been slow for me so far this week, but it should pick up significantly tomorrow. It has been nice to get a chance to do some extra reading while the house is quiet though. When all nine of us are here it's a little hard to find a quiet corner at times!
I was trying to lay out a few minutes ago, but as soon as I got settled, it started raining. It appears to have stopped, so I might go try again. Later.
I'm going to 7/22 again tonight. I'm looking forward to it. I'm sure it'll be awesome once again. Sorry you couldn't be here for it, Allie! I invited Erin from two doors down. She's my age and is home for the summer from college. I don't know her very well, but Marti has been bugging me to hang out with her, so I figured this would be something cool that we could do.
Other than that, this week has been a little on the boring side. The family is in Montana, so it's just me and Marti's parents at the house. Work has been slow for me so far this week, but it should pick up significantly tomorrow. It has been nice to get a chance to do some extra reading while the house is quiet though. When all nine of us are here it's a little hard to find a quiet corner at times!
I was trying to lay out a few minutes ago, but as soon as I got settled, it started raining. It appears to have stopped, so I might go try again. Later.
