TPDL-Day 19

Day 19 - Cultivating Community

Point to Ponder: Community requires commitment.
Verse: "We understand what love is when we realize that Christ gave his life for us. That means we must give our lives for other believers."
1 John 3:16 (GWT)
Question to Consider: How can I help cultivate today the characteristics of real community in my small group and my church?

UPDATE ~

Cultivating community takes:
1. honesty - speak the truth in love
2. humility - not by thinking less of yourself, but by thinking of yourself less
3. courtesy - respect each member of God's family
4. confidentiality - God hates gossip
5. frequency - invest time to build genuine fellowship

Community and deep fellowship requires commitment, the basis of which is our relationship to God and our membership in his family.

TPDL-Day 18

Day 18 - Experiencing Life Together

Point to Ponder: I need other sin my life.
Verse: "Share each other's troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ."
Galatians 6:2 (NLT)
Question to Consider: What one step can I take today to connect with another believer at a more genuine, heart-to-heart level?

UPDATE ~

Life is meant to be shared , experienced together through fellowship.

True fellowship allows for:
1. authenticity - getting honest about our lives, the good, the bad and the ugly parts.
2. mutuality - the art of giving and receiving.
3. sympathy - understanding and validation.
4. mercy - through forgiveness.

Of all the great points in this chapter, one stood out more to me, as if written in bold text in the book. "God will never ask me to forgive someone else more than He has already forgiven me." Showing mercy is a two-part process of forgiveness and trust. Forgiveness is letting go of the past and trust is about future behavior, rebuilt over time.

TPDL-Day 17

Day 17 - A Place To Belong

Point to Ponder: I am called to belong, not just believe.
Verse: "In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."
Romans 12:5 (NIV)
Question to Consider: Does my level of involvement in my local church demonstrate that I love and am committed to God's family?

UPDATE ~

I am called to belong, not just believe. I am connected to every other believer ... for eternity.

Connect and commit to a church family to:
1. identify yourself as a genuine believer
2. counteract self-centered isolation
3. mature spiritually
4. use your unique spiritual gift
5. share in Christ's mission
6. maintain accountability to God

"The church is a body, not a building; an organism, not an organization."

TPDL-Day 16

Day 16 - What Matters Most

Point to Ponder: Life is all about love.
Verse: "The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Galatians 5: 14 (NIV)
Question to Consider: Honestly, are relationships my first priority? How can I ensure that they are?

UPDATE ~

Three important truths learned through fellowship:

The best use of life is love.
Life without love is really worthless ~ Relationships are what matter most in life. The point of life is learning to love - God first, then people. Love will last forever ~ Love is eternal and leaves a legacy. We will be evaluated on our love ~ Spiritual maturity is measured by the quality of relationships.

The best expression of love is time.
Time is a precious gift. Relationships take time and effort. Focused attention is the most desired gift of love. You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.

The best time to love is now.
Love takes top priority. Don't procrastinate, for there is no guarantee of tomorrow.

Our PUP

Camping season is almost here! We purchased this 2007 Fleetwood Arcadia last June and love it. It has plenty of room for family and friends to join us, plus a bunch of comforts that one wouldn't expect in a pop-up. We're counting the days until our first trip of 2010.

My husband grew up camping in a pop-up and has wonderful memories of summers spent in the Poconos. I, on the other hand, grew up spending every summer at my family's cottage on the Elk River in Maryland. Although I was a Girl Scout and a leader (now retired), my family did not "camp". There was no need to since we had a summer home. DH and I had always talked about purchasing a pop-up, but we never took that final step of buying one ... until two years ago.

In the Spring of 2008, we purchased a 2001 Coachman Clipper pop-up. After our maiden voyage weekend of camping, we were hooked. The girls loved the whole experience and couldn't wait for the next trip.

When camping fever hit last Spring, we found a larger PUP that would allow for additional people to join us out on the road. I sold the Coachman (for $300 more than it originally cost) and we bumped-up to the Arcadia high wall model. It looked brand-new and had only been used a few times. High wall models have a full bathroom with shower and a kitchen, plus the dinette area is a slide-out. This monster is 29' feet long when open and sports two king-size bunk ends. In order to tow a larger PUP, we traded-in our Sienna mini van for a new-to-us Toyota Sequoia. The Sequoia seats eight people and easily handles the Arcadia. Travel and camping at its' best and most comfy!

TPDL-Day 15

Purpose # 2 - You Were Formed For God's Family

Day 15 - Formed For God's Family

Point to Ponder: I was formed for God's family.
Verse: "His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 1:5a (NLT)
Question to Consider: How can I start treating other believers like members of my own family?

UPDATE ~

God created me to be part of his family. Through my faith in Jesus, I am a member for God's family. Once received, my spiritual family inheritance can not be taken away; it is priceless, pure, permanent and protected.

I will be with God forever.
I will be like Christ.
Pain, death and suffering will disappear.
I will be rewarded with a position of service.
I will share in God's glory.

Truly as the commercial says ... "priceless." What a privilege I have been given!

TPDL-Day 14

Day 14 - When God Seems Distant

Point to Ponder: God is real, no matter how I feel.
Verse: "For God has said, 'I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.'"
Hebrews 13:5 (TEV)
Question to Consider: How can I stay focused on God's presence, especially when he feels distant?

UPDATE ~

Although God has promised he will never leave or forsake me, he does not promise I will always feel his presence. I have never looked at feeling disconnected from God as his way of developing my faith. Estrangement is not punishment, but a means to deepen my faith and worship my Lord. I need to please God through faith, not feelings.

Jesus gave up everything so I could have everything. And he died so I could live forever. What greater gift is there to be eternally thankful for.