by Elizabeth | Jan 24, 2011 | Learning Story
I know some of you will read Scotty Smith’s daily prayer elsewhere today but this is such a powerful Monday prayer and so relevant to my church friends, such a great followup to yesterday’s sermon, I’m posting it. To get Scotty’s daily prayer, you may “like” him on Facebook or go to http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scottysmith/.
A Prayer About Hearing the Voice of the Holy Spirit
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:15-16
Gracious Father, on any given day, there are a number of voices contending for our attention. There are the voices of from the past, sometimes yammering loudly… sometimes just nickel-and-diming our peace away with the refrain “If people really knew who you are. You still don’t have a clue, do you? You haven’t changed one bit. Why would God ever love someone like you? Didn’t I tell you you’d never amount to much?”
Then there are the voices of the present, often hijacked by our defeated enemy, Satan. His incessant scheme is to tempt, seduce, then accuse us—doing everything possible to rob us of our enjoyment of the gospel. Sometimes he shouts, more often he whispers, always he’s conniving and always he’s condemning.
Then there’s the voices from the future, usually fueling our fears with suggestions like, “You’re not as sharp as you used to be, are you? You’ll probably be forgotten, won’t you? You’ll eventually end up alone, right? Why do you think God would let someone like you into heaven?”
But then there’s the voice of the Holy Spirit…O, how we praise you for that One voice which transcends and trumps every other voice—the gossiper of the gospel… the herald of our healing… the bearer of beauty… the messenger of mercy… the singer of sanity… the cantor of Christ… God the Holy Spirit testifying with our spirits that we are your bought, belonging and beloved children. How we praise you for the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Abba, Father, by the Spirit of sonship. continue to free us from all of our slavish fears—past, present and future. May the Spirit speak so loudly, every dark voice is muted. May he speak so clearly, every deceiving lie is silenced. May he speak so convincingly, every paralyzing doubt is routed. So very Amen, we pray, in Jesus’ tender and triumphant name.
by Elizabeth | Jan 22, 2011 | Learning Story
Starry Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh
Today, a redemption song about beauty and tragedy interwoven. If you want to read about the connection between Don McClean’s song and Vincent Van Gogh’s life, check this link out:
http://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/starrynightlyrics.html
by Elizabeth | Jan 21, 2011 | Learning Story
Okay, I’ll admit…I’m way behind the times on my Australian Open watching since this happened several days ago. If you’re not a tennis fan, watch anyway. I promise it will be worth it. We talk a lot about stories and connections here…this one goes in the category of confusing stories — but what it really makes me think of is our reaction to them. Captions anyone?
by Elizabeth | Jan 20, 2011 | Learning Story
You’re in good company. Listen to this:
Moses raised another objection to God: “Master, please, I don’t talk well. I’ve never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer.”
11-12 God said, “And who do you think made the human mouth? And who makes some mute, some deaf, some sighted, some blind? Isn’t it I, God? So, get going. I’ll be right there with you—with your mouth! I’ll be right there to teach you what to say.”
13 He said, “Oh, Master, please! Send somebody else!”
14-17 God got angry with Moses: “Don’t you have a brother, Aaron the Levite? He’s good with words, I know he is. He speaks very well. In fact, at this very moment he’s on his way to meet you. When he sees you he’s going to be glad. You’ll speak to him and tell him what to say. I’ll be right there with you as you speak and with him as he speaks, teaching you step by step. He will speak to the people for you. He’ll act as your mouth, but you’ll decide what comes out of it. Now take this staff in your hand; you’ll use it to do the signs.”
I love Moses. I love even more how God makes Moses lead the people on a journey they never would have chosen or begun despite the fact that Moses didn’t choose it or really think he could do it. A burning bush. A staff. A brother. Take what I’ve given you and go! (And this was after a lot of other objections! Read it all in Exodus 4.)
That’s the way I feel sometimes. But people come alongside me and remind me that this story isn’t so much about what I can do, but what God HAS done, and what He will do. It is about the gifts God has given me — beginning with the largest — transformation of heart, soul, mind, and body through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s about what he’s given me right now and what he will supply as I go. And it’s about a future calling I know I have…if I forget, I can just read Revelation 21-22.
This started out to be a post quoting Eugene Peterson about Moses, but instead I wrote the above. It made me realize again what I love about how God works and about my life. Because Christ loved me, I get to love others and invite them to move into the impossible too. It’s a pretty exciting life when you think about it!
What about you? What has God done in you that you never believed possible? What is God calling you to that you feel ill-equipped for?
by Elizabeth | Jan 19, 2011 | Learning Story
Just read a fascinating article by Christopher McCluskey, director of Professional Christian Coaching Institute. In it, he quotes Jesse Rice, author of The Church of Facebook:
…the recipe for the kind of connection we’re trying to define is one that includes authenticity and depth. It is sprinkled with protective safety and dignifying freedom. It contains heaping portions of loving concern for our becoming a better, more whole person. It is seasoned with access to transformative power.”
Chris McCluskey and Jesse Rice remind us that while Facebook and other social media serve some of our needs for relational connection, we were made for more.
As I read their words, I thought of the Discovering Your Story retreat, which I am really fired up about. Why? Because it will give 14 women an opportunity to discover that ‘more’ that they were made for. Engaging Scripture teaching, guided journaling, story sharing, invite women to explore the Story and mission God is writing in their lives.
Rest and refreshment in the gospel, discovery of what your life is meant to be about, renewed vigor for living in gospel hope. Learn more at Discovering Your Story page, or contact Elizabeth.
To read the entire article by Dr. Christopher McCluskey, click here.
by Elizabeth | Jan 17, 2011 | Learning Story
It’s a new year and Living Story, like the people it serves, is growing and expanding in our mission to equip people to learn, live, and love in the gospel! Please explore the site…there’s more than ever here to help you and your friends grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Let’s start by describing what Living Story is really about…
What’s Our Story?
The Living Story C-5 helps to describe our mission and how we accomplish it:
C-Core:
Christ:
Living Story is centered in the core narrative of Christ. Our hope springs from Christ’s story: incarnation as Christ-child, fully God-fully human, perfect sinless life, atoning death on the Cross, and resurrection from the dead.
It is the power of this gospel story that transforms people to learn deeply, live freely, and love passionately in God’s story to the praise of God’s glory!
C-Connection:
Community:
We believe that Christianity was never meant to be lived in isolation. Growing and sustaining authentic, compassionate Christian community is part of everything Living Story does.
C-How:
Living Story accomplishes its mission through…
Conferences: authentic and engaged teaching and leading.
We offer one-day conferences as well as longer retreats for deeper reflection. Conference material may be structured to fit into a retreat format.
Curriculum: excellent materials and resources.
We provide materials to help grow in knowledge of the grand narrative of Scripture and to live the gospel story. Bible studies and podcasts engaging all forms of learning and application are among our offerings.
Coaching: compassionate and gospel-centered alliances.
We offer gospel-centered coaching to help people live fully in the freedom of the gospel. A powerful coaching alliance can strengthen and encourage you as you move to live your mission intentionally.
Living Story Community Connection
