Tag Archive - LifeChange

10 Questions for the New Year

January 3, 2009 in Family with 4 Comments

Donald Whitney writes in an article…
The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.

1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

He has 21 other questions that are really good for evaluating last year and preparing for the new year.

[H.T.] Cheryl

A New Read

March 4, 2008 in Books, Influence with 6 Comments

humility_mahaney.jpg

I finished a new book, Humility – True Greatness, that has really captured my attention. I am an active reader. When I sit down to read a book I have a pen in hand, a highlighter and a journal usually comes into play somewhere in the process. Well, this book has really got a lot a notes that have been added by me, the participating reader. I’m attempting to practice some of the things that I have impacted me from the author, C.J. Mahaney.

Here are a few of the Daily Practices to Combat Pride and Cultivate Humility.

  • Reflect on the cross of Christ daily (pg. 65)
  • Acknowledge my dependence on Christ each morning (pg. 69)
  • Express gratitude each morning to God (thankful heart) (pg. 70)
  • Practice the disciplines of prayer, study, and worship (pg. 72)
  • More memory of scripture and meditation on the Word (pg. 73)
  • Cast my cares on Him each morning ( pg. 74)

My desire is to implement these practices so my life is truly changed for His glory.

(more later)

Incredible Experience

May 7, 2007 in Uncategorized with 18 Comments

I would love for you to see a great picture of life change.

“That’s Why I’m Here”

April 4, 2007 in Mission with 6 Comments

Sunday morning Pat taught from 1 Corinthians 9:19-27. He talked about the imperative to contextualize the gospel to the culture you are trying to reach and impact.

Contextualization is taking the message of Christ and putting it in the language of the culture so as to make it accessible to the people in that culture. This is part of being a missional community of believers. Learning the language, whether in Africa, Norway, New York, or Amarillo, is essential to reach the people who live in that place.

The Bible is full of examples of contextualization. Jesus “putting on flesh and blood”, the 4 Gospels written to 4 different cultures of people, Paul speaking to the Athenians on Mars Hill are all great illustrations of “becoming all things to all people so that I might win some.” The truth of scripture is relevant for all cultures of people and nations, but we must learn the language of the people so they can understand.

While Pat was preaching Sunday one of our leaders in the Worship area of the church told Jason (put a new post up), “That is why I am here. There was a church who spoke the truth of the gospel in a language that I understood.” This lady said her life has been completely changed since coming to FBCSmyrna. I know that her leadership and her service to the Lord in the media/stage crew has a tremendous impact on lives each week.

What a thrill to be in a church that takes the missionary calling of learning the language and the culture of the community serious. Thanks Beth for serving the Lord with your talents each week.

Back To It

March 28, 2007 in Uncategorized with 2 Comments

I have been out of touch for a while. This week has been really crazy with trying to catch up and refocus after being out of town for a few days last week.

Yesterday in staff meeting Chris relayed a story that I wanted you to know about.

A mom came to him a few weeks ago and asked him, “What have you done to my son?” Chris asked her, “What do you mean?” She continued by telling Chris that her son had participated in Arms around Smyrna, the middle school missions experience. The entire weekend had made a real impact on him in all areas of his life. He is different around the house as far as helping out and being more considerate and he is having quiet times of devotion each day with the Lord and wants to be a better witness for Christ. Chris thanked her for the encouraging words about the weekend and the update on her son.

The next week during a time of Communion the young man didn’t participate with the rest of the students in the Lord’s Supper. Chris spoke with him about this and the young man told him he realized there was un-confessed sin in his life and really felt he needed to make that right before going any further with the Lord’s Supper. Chris had the opportunity to pray with the young man and help him through that time in his walk.

This a great picture of how God is moving in the lives of middle school students here at FBCSmyrna. This young man’s life was impacted by serving with other students and it affected his home life and his walk with Jesus. Each week we minister to around 400 teenagers through the student environments offered at FBCSmyrna. If you know a middle or high school student that isn’t connected to a church invite them to check out what is going on here. Also, please pray for Chris and David as they lead teenagers, parents, and student ministry volunteers to make a difference in Middle Tennessee for the kingdom of God.