A 40 DAY JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY – Week Four

 

 

Day 22…Keep the Fire Burning…

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,  (2 Timothy 1:6)

Paul gives his son in the faith, Timothy some sage advice. We could translate fan into flame as; stir up, to kindle afresh, stoke the fire, rekindle the gift of God that is within you.  Does anyone start anything hoping to mediocre? Did we start in Christ wanting enough to just get by?

Think for a moment and if you are a Christian remember your first faith in Christ, the newness of Jesus in your life. I have a vivid memory of…Read More>

 

 

Day 23…Keep the Fire Burning…
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,  (2 Timothy 1:6)

Paul gives his son in the faith, Timothy some sage advice. We could translate fan into flame as; stir up, to kindle afresh, stoke the fire, rekindle the gift of God that is within you.  The fire of our faith needs to be tended.   How do we do that? To have a fire you must have:  Fuel as we talked about yesterday you also need…Read More>

 

 

 

Day 24…Keep the Fire Burning…
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,  (2 Timothy 1:6)

Fire is a fairly basic essential to life and has huge benefits.

Fire burns and consumes. This consumption can be destructive wild fires burning up acreage and resources.  Yet in many ways a fire can a great way to get rid of things.  I am reminded of this passage from 1 Corinthians 3:12-15… Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

We build our life by our actions…Read More>

 

Day 25…Be Still…
From Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God…  A famous verse with many songs written many more sermons preached on this text.  This verse (with others) points to a Christian Mysticism that many have pursued.   Spending their whole lives in pursuit of stillness.   The Desert Fathers who in the early centuries of church history wandered in the wilderness in solitude and isolation pondering in silence (sometimes for years) the mystery of GOD. They then would come out of this experience to share what they had learned.

There is a call, a command to Be Still.  It is an imperative form.  Sometime if we are honest we do like being told what to do.  We’ve had many dogs…Read More>

 

 

Day 26…The Mission…
I have heard the mission of the church expressed in many ways. One that impacted me and was a part of a church plant I was involved with summed up the mission of the church as: The Great Commandment (love God with all you are / love others) PLUS The Great Commission (Go into all the world to make disciples) EQUALS a GREAT CHURCH.   I was recently with a number of church leaders and pastors for a day and this phrase caught my attention; Christian Ministry is:  Unlikely people in overlooked places doing extraordinary things.   This sums up in so many ways the ministry of the Kingdom of God!

God seems to choose the most unlikely people to do his work.  Consider Noah, Abraham,…Read More>

 

 

Day 27…Our Witness…  On August 25th in 1973 as a 13 year old with some serious questions about life, a decision was made that would forever alter my life. I had to grow up early as my Dad passed away when I was 10 years old. I had been a member of the church my whole life, I had been confirmed and served as an acolyte. I went on a church youth retreat in North Georgia at Unicoi State Park in a campground called Squirrel’s Nest. I loved camping so this was a no-brainer, one last rush before school started back. Once we got to our destination I felt some “bait and switch”.  I had expected a weekend in mountains of fishing, hiking, exploring and fun around the campfire.  The leaders for the retreat were talking a lot about Jesus. This was not a camping trip but more like Sunday School!  Not that there is anything wrong with Sunday School, I had just envisioned the weekend a bit differently.

In the course of the weekend the Good News of Jesus Christ was explained to me. I began to know God loved me and…Read More>

 

Day 28…A Quiet Place…

It is easy to see when you read the Gospels that Jesus was fairly busy.  Days were filled with teaching, miracles, healings and often travel.  The Gospel of Mark is sometimes referred to as the Gospel of haste as the movement from one event to another is brisk.  Sentences often begin with; Immediately, Suddenly,  At once.  Yet as you read the Gospels you discover that Jesus was never in a hurry.  He took time. Jesus never ran anywhere; He walked. He also knew the need for solitude and silence.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)  He taught this to the disciples, modeled it and mentored them into a slowed down posture. ..Read More>