Is it Over Yet?! Journaling Challenge

A friend of mine asked me that yesterday.  I told him that we are more than half way there (today is day 22).   But we also talked about falling into the trap of journaling out of obligation...

Read more here: http://nymensministry.com/2012/12/03/journaling-challenge-is-it-40-days-yet/

The Journey Begins!!

I’m really excited that many people have told me that they want to commit to journaling for 40 days with us! I know God will bless the time we commit to being with Him.

Read more here: http://nymensministry.com/2012/11/10/40-day-journey-begins/

A Closer Walk with God - Challenge

In our men’s Bible study this past Saturday morning we talked about ‘fear and love’ in the Bible.  I wondered out loud to the group,

‘Do we truly experience a daily tangible relationship with God?‘.

I said, I’m sure we have all had times where we felt close to Him (and multiple heads shook in agreement) but do we have an intimate connection with him daily?  If we did, we probably would better understand what it means to ‘fear’ breaking that relationship with Him.

Read more here: http://nymensministry.com/2012/11/06/journaling-challenge/

The Discipline of Journaling

http://www.aholyexperience.com

Why Mapping your Private World can bring your soul into focus – Genesis 35:6-7

by Gordon MacDonald   - Reprinted with permission of the Leadership Journal (LeadershipJournal.net)

When I started journaling it was because I needed a “friend,” and I wasn’t doing well with the human kind. Read more here: http://nymensministry.com/2012/11/04/the-discipline-of-journaling/

How to begin to pray

Hole in a wine barrel.

“Let a man begin in prayer where he is, and that means anywhere, with any problem, with any desire. If what he asks for has him in its grip, that means that God can meet him there. If he has a ruling passion to be liked by others, to be selected to an important post, to be able to hold his marriage together, to recover the confidence of a son or daughter, why should this not come squarely into his prayer?

No need to clean up your thoughts before going to God in prayer. The Holy Spirit will do that during the conversation. Amen!

Read more here: http://nymensministry.com/2012/10/18/637/

Lent: Don't Give Up!

(Sorry for the long delay between posts)

Hey guys! I know that’s a weird subject for this blog entry but it was inspired!


Did you guys make a resolution for lent? Something you will either stop or start doing for the next 40 (now 39 days). If you were thinking of something but didn’t do it (or stop doing it) yesterday, don’t give up. Why not start today. We are imperfect, we know that (and guess what – so does God). So why not start today?!

I’ve decided to meditate/journal every day through Lent. I’m hoping I can build discipline and start to enjoy it. To let you know how much of a stretch this is for me, I’ve been journaling about once a month. And I’ve been satisfied with that because that was once more than I was doing before.

Why not share your resolution so we can pray for you and cheer you on!

Can You Lose Your Salvation

Over the last few weeks, we've been debating the question 'can one lose their salvation?' in our small group.  My opinion has leaned always towards 'no'.  Not in order to assure myself that my actions couldn't cause my demise but that they couldn't cause my salvation.  I do believe that the devil is constantly in the ear of those that have given their life to Christ saying "Are you really sure you are saved?" while God is in the other ear saying "I will never leave you nor forsake you".

To think that our actions, I argued could keep us saved devalues Christ's sacrifice.  He paid it all and died so we might live.  I'm not arguing that we need to work out our sanctification but all we bring to our justification is our sins (sorry forgot who originally said this).

Today, I heard a sermon from Chuck Swindoll on Disqualification.  He made a compelling point.  Not that our disciplines or actions assure our salvation but that the state of our heart will be judged.  Can we love God with all our heart and desire Him over everything, and than slowly fall in love with the things of the world and forget God.  I believe we can.

It's not a quick action like the slip of the tongue.  'Oh no, there goes my salvation, let me work to get back in right relationship with God.'  No, it's more like deciding not to accept the gift we once accepted.  Jesus' death paid the price and this is a gift we need to receive.  He doesn't force it on us.

As Chuck so eloquently described putting something else before God is subtle, very subtle.  We test the boundaries, we rationalize our actions, we continue to push the limits.  Until we say "I don't care the cost, I want ..."  and the blank space is anything but God.

But their is hope.  Chuck mentions Samson and how his ego led to his demise but he didn't mention the end of the story.  In Judges 16:28, Samson prays to God "O sovereign Lord, remember me.  O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes".  Some say Samson's hair had grown back and therefore his strength had returned but then he wouldn't need to pray.  No, it's clear that he put God back in His right position, as the sovereign Lord, and therefore took himself off the throne of his life.  God answered Samson's prayer and if you turn back to God he will answer yours.

Please listen to Chuck Swindoll's sermon here:
Insight for Living - April 26, 2010

* Image courtesy of http://www.howstuffworks.com/

Recommitting to Prayer

About three weeks ago, we discussed prayer (see below post) and multiple people committed to trying to pray 3 times a day throughout Lent.  Many have mentioned that they, just like me, have struggled to get into this rhythm of stopping, breathing, and spending time with God.  Therefore since we are nearly exactly in the middle of Lent, we decided to recommit ourselves to this effort for the second half of Lent.  Why not join us and let us know your thoughts by adding comments below.

(Image courtesy: www.treasureschristianbooks.com)

I thought I would share a few comments that I have shared with others over the last few weeks with the hope that they may be an encouragement to you as you attempt to get into the practice of communing with God.  God Bless!

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' - which means, 'My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?'  - Matthew 27:46

Jesus was on the cross for 6 hours at this point.  He had already been flogged, had nails put through his hands and feet, and has been insulted all throughout.  Why would Jesus make this proclamation at this time and be silent through everything else?  Have you ever wondered this? Well it is important to note that in Jewish tradition, the Passover lamb was slaughtered at the 9^th hour.  So you see, Jesus is our Passover lamb.  So at the ninth hour he became sin for us and was cut off from God.  For the first time (in all time), he couldn’t commune with God and the loneliness and abandonment he felt made him yell out. I think this gives us some appreciation for the blessing we have in being able to commune with God.  Jesus was cutoff so we wouldn’t have to be.  I know I want to value that.

This hymn is from Claudia Hernaman:

“Lord, who throughout these forty days for us did fast and pray,
Teach us with you to mourn our sins, and close by you to stay.

As You with Satan did contend and did the victory win,
O give us strength in you to fight, in you to conquer sin.

As you bore hunger and your thirst, so teach us, gracious Lord,
To die to self, and chiefly live by your most holy Word.

And through the days of penitence, and through your Passion-tide,
Yes, evermore, in life and death, Jesus! With us abide.

Abide with us, that so, this life of suffering over-past,
An Easter of unending joy we may attain at last!"