I spend a lot of time praying, studying, thinking, researching, writing, and listening when preparing for Tuesday nights. When we finished Romans, I sat before the Lord and asked Him to give me something that would be beneficial to all of us. I looked at the things God was revealing about my own life and asked Him to show me how to make that relevant for all of us.
As I mentioned before, I have heard many people, from many walks of life, say that they feel like they are dragging to the finish line. If I can just make it through testing. If I can just make it through this semester. If I can just make it through this quarter at the office. If I can just make it through this season. I don’t know what’s on the other side of that ‘if‘ for everyone else, but for me, it’s usually something like ‘THEN I will be able to kick my heels up and have some ME time’.
Rest is good. I need rest. We all need rest. We need breaks in our schedule. But those times of rest should include things that stir our affections for God.
As June approaches, I want to avoid the lie that says summer means a break from ministry, a break from community, a break from diligently seeking God in prayer and scripture, and a break from being a fully-engaged, active missionary in a lost and broken world.
This summer I want to be faithful in seeking the face of God and dwelling in His presence!
Here’s some of the wisest life advice I’ve ever heard – Make a plan or plan to fail.
We will use the month of May to plan and prepare for a Faithful Summer. Here’s an overview for this ‘series‘.
Week 1 – Idleness and Idolatry
Our faithfulness to God and His mission and purpose for our lives is threatened by many external things in this world. But I think the most dangerous threats to our faithfulness lie within us. Our own tendency to grow weary and complacent and our search for something (beyond God) that would satisfy drive a wedge between us and our First Love. This week we will take a close and honest look at what’s going on deep within our hearts that might threaten our intimacy with God.
Week 2 – Remember:Rejoice:Restore
When I survey the works and wonders the hands of God have performed in my life, I respond to Him in grateful worship. When I remind myself of God’s glory and perfection and the price that Jesus paid to bring me into His presence, I am overcome with joy. A renewed assurance of who God is and what He is doing in, around and through me restores my hope in all that He has planned for my life. This week we will all have a chance to tell of what God has done for us and how He has drawn us to love Him.
Week 3 – Draw Near
How do you draw near to God? How does your time in His word look? How healthy is your prayer life? This week we will talk about the discipline of drawing near to God and carve out a time to intentionally meet with Him.
Week 4 – Vision Casting!
We are all uniquely designed and gifted by God. The reason that we are living right now is because God determined that we are necessary for His kingdom-building purposes for today. He has you here on purpose, for a purpose.
As we break bread together over a potluck meal, we will have some time to talk about our spiritual gifts, our passions and talents, and the things that stir our heart for God and His people. We will also each ask and answer questions like this: What is your mission? Has God given you vision for your life? What are you called to be faithful to do?
Week 5 – Accountability
The best way to prevent unfaithfulness is to guard against it. This week, we will all present some plans and goals that we have to be faithful to God and the things of God over the summer. What are we going to contribute to the vision and mission God has given us? Then we will identify strategies to keep ourselves and each other accountable.
These are MY plans but they are subject to God’s authority. My goal is not to write a curriculum. My goal is to be sensitive to promptings of the Holy Spirit. I pray each week that God would give me words and ideas that would bless the heart of His people. I am always dependent on and open to His input (and to yours as well!).
I look forward to spending more time with each of you in the presence of God, our Father!
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