Hi Miller-Life-Groupees,
Here's Tracey performing with the rest of the RH Dance Team to the Ephesians 2 piece! If you didn't get to see it live you missed out-- but no fret-- the power of internet streaming video saves the day...
Monday, November 12, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Norland Response to "New Night, New Location"
I can't believe it had been 5 years! It has gone by in the blink of an eye, but it was so nice to be reminded of just how much happened in those 5 years! A lot of new friends made, and old ones missed, but God has controlled it all and blessed the MLG in so many ways. We count it a joy and a privilege to have been invited into the group all those years ago and are so thankful for each one who has contributed! A special thanks to the Miller's for making their home a place of peace, and a real haven to run to on Monday nights. I will miss that home but can't wait to establish our group at the Esperos!
Christy
Christy
Friday, October 12, 2007
New Night, New Location
It is truly amazing how fast time flies, how many people come in and out of our lives, and the change that comes upon us (and within us). After 5 years of meeting at David & Debbie's wonderful home in Newport Beach (who are some of the most incredibly loving, Christ-like hosts one will ever come upon), a new chapter of the Miller Life Group has come about. I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the 5 years of Monday nights we have had at the Miller's.
When we first started the MLG, the OG (original "groupies") where the Regehrs, Millers (ALL the Millers, lil David, Hayley and Murf) and Esperos. Then we had the Norlands (pre-Bria & pre-Casi), Hogues, Bruce Erickson, Michael Gomsi, the Winnekes (Byron & Diane), Denise (I can't remember her last name) and another Dave (can't remember his name either-- I'm losin' it). There are some names I may have overlooked and I apologize-- I'm emotionally reflecting. How funny is this-- Tracey and I have seen all the Miller kids off to college! Murf to Cal Poly, Hayley to Pt. Loma, and now Lil David to Wagner in NY.
One of the memories I recall is that of Sara Baker & Josh Peary (now the Peary's) in their engagement period and preparing for their wedding and being at their lovely wedding day. They were both so incredibly beautiful on their wedding day. Josh and his mesmerizing Kiwi accent and Sara and her beautiful smile-- what a couple. I rememember seeing Sara & Josh driving away in that classic convertible from Old Hansen's Beach Club in San Clemente knowing that their lives would take them back to New Zealand (FYI, Josh, for a brother with whom I've spent only a breath of time with, you are one of my closest mates-- my Kiwi soul brother). This lovely couple radiates Christ wherever they go and they have hearts that love large.
Let's not forget Jason & Trisha Regehr before little JJ was born and going through their first pregnancy. I could see Jason trying to figure out the whole fatherhood thing while Trish was "filling out." Now they not only have JJ, but they also have James Patton!
We also were blessed to have had a young, single man named Jason Piel be a part of the MLG community. In our time with him, we discovered a deep and intimate relationship with God. He had a soul that wanted to serve Him more and surrender everything he had for the King. Jason left Orange County to move to Los Angeles and serve at the Los Angeles Dream Center, to witness to members of LA Street Gangs and prostitutes (check out http://www.dreamcenter.org/).
Then there was another young couple, Jason Cronin and Amber Stout (now the Cronin's) who had incredible music and vocal talents. Who knew that Amber's soft, conversational voice could sing as powerfully and beautiful as waves hitting an ocean shore? The MLG got to share in their wedding day at the Japanese Gardens in Long Beach and hear them perform an opera together for the first time as a married couple.
Then we had this loving young couple named Mindy and Cory. This couple embodies joyful, playful love as God intended. Their hearts are of pure gold and deeply missed. One of the most spirit-filled nights involved ministering to the Nacke's not only because we had all had the opportunity to act as Jesus' hands, but also because we did it as a community of Christ followers. Tracey and I got to spend a few nights with them before the RH Easter 2005 Celebration (you know the one when the power went out) because Dance Team rehearsals. It was cold in that big, white tent at night that's for sure. You would see Cory, Mindy and their lil pup, Samwell hanging out in the chairs during rehearsals.
But even as these people left more wonderful people filled their places. The Womacks (now up in NorCal), the Kennedys, the Greenhills, the Harvilles and the Simmons, and they have been all an immeasurable blessing to the MLG.
Why do I share all this with you? Because I want everyone to see that we, as a community of followers of Jesus have done what Dietrich Bonhoeffer (one of my favorite Christian authors) calls "Life Together." We've been through peaks and valleys, celebrations and sadness-- all under the banner of Christian fellowship. At times I wondered how God would make us all "fit", but as I reflect He did a wonderful work in doing so. Was it according to my plan? No way! If it was there would be a bunch of self-centered, Robert-clones saying what I would want them to say to make me feel like I could do this life alone, but of course, God did have something to say because He brought us all together to work out our "edges", encourage each other, love one another and to in essence, live out "Life Together."
I want to thank the Millers for their gift of hospitality, leadership and servanthood this last 5 years. They graciously opened up their home for one purpose-- that all of us could experience Jesus in community-- to do LIFE TOGETHER. Now let us continue this on Thursday nights in Costa Mesa @ the Espero's!
Seeking the heavenly country (Heb 11:16),
Robert Espero
P.S. Please feel free to add your memories to this blog or email me and I'll post them for you!
When we first started the MLG, the OG (original "groupies") where the Regehrs, Millers (ALL the Millers, lil David, Hayley and Murf) and Esperos. Then we had the Norlands (pre-Bria & pre-Casi), Hogues, Bruce Erickson, Michael Gomsi, the Winnekes (Byron & Diane), Denise (I can't remember her last name) and another Dave (can't remember his name either-- I'm losin' it). There are some names I may have overlooked and I apologize-- I'm emotionally reflecting. How funny is this-- Tracey and I have seen all the Miller kids off to college! Murf to Cal Poly, Hayley to Pt. Loma, and now Lil David to Wagner in NY.
One of the memories I recall is that of Sara Baker & Josh Peary (now the Peary's) in their engagement period and preparing for their wedding and being at their lovely wedding day. They were both so incredibly beautiful on their wedding day. Josh and his mesmerizing Kiwi accent and Sara and her beautiful smile-- what a couple. I rememember seeing Sara & Josh driving away in that classic convertible from Old Hansen's Beach Club in San Clemente knowing that their lives would take them back to New Zealand (FYI, Josh, for a brother with whom I've spent only a breath of time with, you are one of my closest mates-- my Kiwi soul brother). This lovely couple radiates Christ wherever they go and they have hearts that love large.
Let's not forget Jason & Trisha Regehr before little JJ was born and going through their first pregnancy. I could see Jason trying to figure out the whole fatherhood thing while Trish was "filling out." Now they not only have JJ, but they also have James Patton!
We also were blessed to have had a young, single man named Jason Piel be a part of the MLG community. In our time with him, we discovered a deep and intimate relationship with God. He had a soul that wanted to serve Him more and surrender everything he had for the King. Jason left Orange County to move to Los Angeles and serve at the Los Angeles Dream Center, to witness to members of LA Street Gangs and prostitutes (check out http://www.dreamcenter.org/).
Then there was another young couple, Jason Cronin and Amber Stout (now the Cronin's) who had incredible music and vocal talents. Who knew that Amber's soft, conversational voice could sing as powerfully and beautiful as waves hitting an ocean shore? The MLG got to share in their wedding day at the Japanese Gardens in Long Beach and hear them perform an opera together for the first time as a married couple.
Then we had this loving young couple named Mindy and Cory. This couple embodies joyful, playful love as God intended. Their hearts are of pure gold and deeply missed. One of the most spirit-filled nights involved ministering to the Nacke's not only because we had all had the opportunity to act as Jesus' hands, but also because we did it as a community of Christ followers. Tracey and I got to spend a few nights with them before the RH Easter 2005 Celebration (you know the one when the power went out) because Dance Team rehearsals. It was cold in that big, white tent at night that's for sure. You would see Cory, Mindy and their lil pup, Samwell hanging out in the chairs during rehearsals.
But even as these people left more wonderful people filled their places. The Womacks (now up in NorCal), the Kennedys, the Greenhills, the Harvilles and the Simmons, and they have been all an immeasurable blessing to the MLG.
Why do I share all this with you? Because I want everyone to see that we, as a community of followers of Jesus have done what Dietrich Bonhoeffer (one of my favorite Christian authors) calls "Life Together." We've been through peaks and valleys, celebrations and sadness-- all under the banner of Christian fellowship. At times I wondered how God would make us all "fit", but as I reflect He did a wonderful work in doing so. Was it according to my plan? No way! If it was there would be a bunch of self-centered, Robert-clones saying what I would want them to say to make me feel like I could do this life alone, but of course, God did have something to say because He brought us all together to work out our "edges", encourage each other, love one another and to in essence, live out "Life Together."
I want to thank the Millers for their gift of hospitality, leadership and servanthood this last 5 years. They graciously opened up their home for one purpose-- that all of us could experience Jesus in community-- to do LIFE TOGETHER. Now let us continue this on Thursday nights in Costa Mesa @ the Espero's!
Seeking the heavenly country (Heb 11:16),
Robert Espero
P.S. Please feel free to add your memories to this blog or email me and I'll post them for you!
Finding Our Stride...
My Utmost for His Highest - October 12
Title: Getting Into God's Stride
Key Verse: Enoch walked with God.
Click link below to study this verse: Genesis 5:24
http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=ge+5:24
The test of a man's religious life and character is not what he does in the exceptional moments of life, but what he does in the ordinary times, when there is nothing tremendous or exciting on. The worth of a man is revealed in his attitude to ordinary things when he is not before the footlights (cf. John 1:36). It is a painful business to get through into the stride of God, it means getting your second wind spiritually. In learning to walk with God there is always the difficulty of getting into His stride; but when we have got into it, the only characteristic that manifests itself is the life of God. The individual man is lost sight of in his personal union with God, and the stride and the power of God alone are manifested.
It is difficult to get into stride with God, because when we start walking with Him we find He has outstripped us before we have taken three steps. He has different ways of doing things, and we have to be trained and disciplined into His ways. It was said of Jesus - "He shall not fail nor be discouraged," because He never worked from His own individual standpoint but always from the standpoint of His Father, and we have to learn to do the same. Spiritual truth is learned by atmosphere, not by intellectual reasoning. God's Spirit alters the atmosphere of our way of looking at things, and things begin to be possible which never were possible before. Getting into the stride of God means nothing less than union with Himself. It takes a long time to get there, but keep at it.
Don't give in because the pain is bad just now, get on with it, and before long you will find you have a new vision and a new purpose.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taken from 'My Utmost for His Highest', by Oswald Chambers. © l935 by Dodd Mead & Co., renewed © 1963 by the Oswald Chambers Publications Assn., Ltd., and is used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Uhrichsville, Ohio.
All rights reserved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Getting Into God's Stride
Key Verse: Enoch walked with God.
Click link below to study this verse: Genesis 5:24
http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=ge+5:24
The test of a man's religious life and character is not what he does in the exceptional moments of life, but what he does in the ordinary times, when there is nothing tremendous or exciting on. The worth of a man is revealed in his attitude to ordinary things when he is not before the footlights (cf. John 1:36). It is a painful business to get through into the stride of God, it means getting your second wind spiritually. In learning to walk with God there is always the difficulty of getting into His stride; but when we have got into it, the only characteristic that manifests itself is the life of God. The individual man is lost sight of in his personal union with God, and the stride and the power of God alone are manifested.
It is difficult to get into stride with God, because when we start walking with Him we find He has outstripped us before we have taken three steps. He has different ways of doing things, and we have to be trained and disciplined into His ways. It was said of Jesus - "He shall not fail nor be discouraged," because He never worked from His own individual standpoint but always from the standpoint of His Father, and we have to learn to do the same. Spiritual truth is learned by atmosphere, not by intellectual reasoning. God's Spirit alters the atmosphere of our way of looking at things, and things begin to be possible which never were possible before. Getting into the stride of God means nothing less than union with Himself. It takes a long time to get there, but keep at it.
Don't give in because the pain is bad just now, get on with it, and before long you will find you have a new vision and a new purpose.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taken from 'My Utmost for His Highest', by Oswald Chambers. © l935 by Dodd Mead & Co., renewed © 1963 by the Oswald Chambers Publications Assn., Ltd., and is used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Uhrichsville, Ohio.
All rights reserved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, August 31, 2007
Prayer Request: Killer Dana
Hey Life Group Family.
I have a prayer request for the a friend over here at Killer Dana. Her name is Jamie. The deal is that she is pregnant and she just found out that her baby has a heart issue where there is a 6mm hole in her (the baby's) heart between the left and right ventricles. As with any good mother she is stressed/concerned about it, so I offered that we as a group would pray for her and their child.
"Where two or more are gathered in MY name..." (dont remember the exact scripture, but you get the point)
They go to the doctors again on Wednesday of next week (Sept 5.) so please begin to pray for the health and healing of her child and for trust, patience, peace and submission to the Lord's will for her family.
JDG
Wholeheartedly His...
1 Kings 8: 22-23
I have a prayer request for the a friend over here at Killer Dana. Her name is Jamie. The deal is that she is pregnant and she just found out that her baby has a heart issue where there is a 6mm hole in her (the baby's) heart between the left and right ventricles. As with any good mother she is stressed/concerned about it, so I offered that we as a group would pray for her and their child.
"Where two or more are gathered in MY name..." (dont remember the exact scripture, but you get the point)
They go to the doctors again on Wednesday of next week (Sept 5.) so please begin to pray for the health and healing of her child and for trust, patience, peace and submission to the Lord's will for her family.
JDG
Wholeheartedly His...
1 Kings 8: 22-23
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Prayer Request: Killer Dana (01)
Hey all.
This is Jacin. I just wanted to ask the group to pray for the Lord's hand and blessings over the job offer I am about receive. Specifically that the salary and benefits would a blessing for our family (the Lord knows the figure we need). Also, that we will remain faithful with whatever He chooses to give us.
For those of you who may be lost and have no idea what I am talking about, I applied for the creative director position over at Killer Dana in Dana Point. I interviewed for the position last Friday and went through a second-round "test" of sorts on Monday and met with them again today to discuss the results of the "test". The short story is that God is so amazing through all of this! The CEO called me earlier this evening and told me that they are going to make an offer tonight, he just need to put the paperwork together.
I really am trying to be very patient with this while at the same time being very expectant in waiting on the Lord to do something beyond what I could even ask or think. This opportunity is... well, let's just say this opportunity is a welcome one. There will be loads of hard work ahead and a lot of good connections made.... blablabla. I am trusting in His provision.
Anyway, what you can glean from that is my prayer request for now.
JDG
Wholeheartedly His...
1 Kings 8: 22-23
This is Jacin. I just wanted to ask the group to pray for the Lord's hand and blessings over the job offer I am about receive. Specifically that the salary and benefits would a blessing for our family (the Lord knows the figure we need). Also, that we will remain faithful with whatever He chooses to give us.
For those of you who may be lost and have no idea what I am talking about, I applied for the creative director position over at Killer Dana in Dana Point. I interviewed for the position last Friday and went through a second-round "test" of sorts on Monday and met with them again today to discuss the results of the "test". The short story is that God is so amazing through all of this! The CEO called me earlier this evening and told me that they are going to make an offer tonight, he just need to put the paperwork together.
I really am trying to be very patient with this while at the same time being very expectant in waiting on the Lord to do something beyond what I could even ask or think. This opportunity is... well, let's just say this opportunity is a welcome one. There will be loads of hard work ahead and a lot of good connections made.... blablabla. I am trusting in His provision.
Anyway, what you can glean from that is my prayer request for now.
JDG
Wholeheartedly His...
1 Kings 8: 22-23
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Psalm 29:11
"The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace."
This last July 11th was my 12th Spiritual Birthday-- the anniversary of when I came to that point in my life when I wanted to relinquish control of my life and give it to the Lord. Since that time I have read through the entire Bible many times and 12 years later it always seems new to me because of new revelations that the Lord blesses me with. Today is no different! That is what is so awesome about His word. New things are revealed to you based upon how hard you are seeking Him.
Check out my revelation in this morning's devotional time. How many times have we tried to do things under our own strength and failed? I don't know about you but since giving my life to the Lord the (at times hard) lessons I have learned is that everything I do-- is because of what the Lord wills it. My responsibility is to seek Him in prayer and listen for what could be a still, small voice or something as loud as a gong, then in obedience respond by my action. What we all seem to forget at times is that God allows things to occur (good and bad) for a greater purpose (see Romans 8:28) -- all we are to do is look to Him for His strength and he will annoint us with His peace-- which is a peace that transcends all understanding (see Philippians 4:5-9)!
This last July 11th was my 12th Spiritual Birthday-- the anniversary of when I came to that point in my life when I wanted to relinquish control of my life and give it to the Lord. Since that time I have read through the entire Bible many times and 12 years later it always seems new to me because of new revelations that the Lord blesses me with. Today is no different! That is what is so awesome about His word. New things are revealed to you based upon how hard you are seeking Him.
Check out my revelation in this morning's devotional time. How many times have we tried to do things under our own strength and failed? I don't know about you but since giving my life to the Lord the (at times hard) lessons I have learned is that everything I do-- is because of what the Lord wills it. My responsibility is to seek Him in prayer and listen for what could be a still, small voice or something as loud as a gong, then in obedience respond by my action. What we all seem to forget at times is that God allows things to occur (good and bad) for a greater purpose (see Romans 8:28) -- all we are to do is look to Him for His strength and he will annoint us with His peace-- which is a peace that transcends all understanding (see Philippians 4:5-9)!
How Awesome He Is...
Hey my friends, Rob here and I'm recovering from my Surfer's Ear surgery! What's cool is I have an incredible praise report to throw your way. The surgery was performed by Dr. Carol Jackson of the Sonos Hearing Group in Newport Beach. All I have to say is that I give mad props to her and her staff. They were so cool, compassionate, understanding and knowledgable about EVERYTHING. But what is more important is this-- I have had no pain, dizziness, or nausea during or after the surgery! I've heard from many that this is a pretty painful procedure-- being that they literally drill down the bone that has developed in your middle ear-- but man, IT WAS PAINLESS! Paise God for that because all I could do before hand is pray-- and God listened, heard and responded!
One of my favorite verses in the Old Testament comes from Job 9:8 which says, "He alone stretches over the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea." Yeah, sure, I joke that this is scriptural proof that God surfs (and believe me, I wish I knew), but it speaks of something that we, as His cherished creation need to understand. God is all powerful (omniscient) and huge (omnipresent) and we cannot escape His goodness and His undying pursuit of us.
Why do you ask? The answer is found in Jeremiah 31:3-- a verse which is representative of my marriage to my lovely wife, Moo (it's a great nickname, don't you think? A sound a cow makes)-- which says, "I have loved you with an EVERLASTING LOVE; I have drawn you with LOVINGKINDNESS."
You see, in all of God's power, He still desires genuine relationship with ALL OF US. Yes, I understand that for some of you this is hard to believe but it is true. We overlook the blessings that we have in our lives, big and small, and the fact of the matter is GOD GAVE THEM TO US OUT OF HIS GENEROUS LOVE.
What does this have to do with a land-locked, post-surfer's ear surfer's surgery?
God knew the desires of my heart-- to be free of pain, dizziness, nausea and my desire to be back in the water by the end of July. Guess what? He answered each and every one of them and all I can do is give thanks to my loving Father in heaven!
If any of you want to discuss online or offline, post comments below or feel free to email Jacin (aka "Boogie")at jacin@harnessmedia.com, or myself at newportsoulsurfer@yahoo.com!
Seeking the heavenly country (Hebrews 11:16),
Rob
One of my favorite verses in the Old Testament comes from Job 9:8 which says, "He alone stretches over the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea." Yeah, sure, I joke that this is scriptural proof that God surfs (and believe me, I wish I knew), but it speaks of something that we, as His cherished creation need to understand. God is all powerful (omniscient) and huge (omnipresent) and we cannot escape His goodness and His undying pursuit of us.
Why do you ask? The answer is found in Jeremiah 31:3-- a verse which is representative of my marriage to my lovely wife, Moo (it's a great nickname, don't you think? A sound a cow makes)-- which says, "I have loved you with an EVERLASTING LOVE; I have drawn you with LOVINGKINDNESS."
You see, in all of God's power, He still desires genuine relationship with ALL OF US. Yes, I understand that for some of you this is hard to believe but it is true. We overlook the blessings that we have in our lives, big and small, and the fact of the matter is GOD GAVE THEM TO US OUT OF HIS GENEROUS LOVE.
What does this have to do with a land-locked, post-surfer's ear surfer's surgery?
God knew the desires of my heart-- to be free of pain, dizziness, nausea and my desire to be back in the water by the end of July. Guess what? He answered each and every one of them and all I can do is give thanks to my loving Father in heaven!
If any of you want to discuss online or offline, post comments below or feel free to email Jacin (aka "Boogie")at jacin@harnessmedia.com, or myself at newportsoulsurfer@yahoo.com!
Seeking the heavenly country (Hebrews 11:16),
Rob
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Tessa Simone Nacke Dedication
Hey Miller Life Groupees (MLGs), Cory & Mindy Nacke, former MLGs now living in Illinois sent some pictures of their beautiful lil daugther, Tessa Simone, on her dedication day to the Lord on June 3, 2007, and wanted to share them with all of you!
Week of 6/11
As always it was great to gather again. Lara was such a studdette for her childcare technician skills. We are truly blessed to have her watching all the mini-MLG folk!
This week, if you guys thing about it pray for the Norland family. There are quite a few medical things going around-- for Josh's Mom and Christy's cousin(?), Paige, who is less than 2 years old. She was diagnosed with cancer. Pray that the Lord's hand performs an incredible miracle on them. Also pray for comfort and peace for the family.
Meg (and Rian), are getting BIG-- in a good way. They're pregnant with their first and it's awesome to see the different stages of their pregnancy. If I'm correct they're due the end of July 2007.
Jacin pulled a great save on Cassi who was crying for Mommy. He's got the magic touch in calming her down. My theory: Cassi thinks he's a big piece of chocolate and she's just happy to be next to him :).
Debbie led the discussions tonight and for me what stuck out is our discussion in how we as followers of Jesus treat people. The fact of the matter is we need to see people through Jesus' eyes and love them with Jesus' heart not just through the "Go Campaign" but in all of our areas of influence. I know I need help in doing this. We are in fellowship and partnering with each other to encourage, exhort and love each other in our pursuit of Jesus-likeness. Each day is an opportunity to do that!
Rob
This week, if you guys thing about it pray for the Norland family. There are quite a few medical things going around-- for Josh's Mom and Christy's cousin(?), Paige, who is less than 2 years old. She was diagnosed with cancer. Pray that the Lord's hand performs an incredible miracle on them. Also pray for comfort and peace for the family.
Meg (and Rian), are getting BIG-- in a good way. They're pregnant with their first and it's awesome to see the different stages of their pregnancy. If I'm correct they're due the end of July 2007.
Jacin pulled a great save on Cassi who was crying for Mommy. He's got the magic touch in calming her down. My theory: Cassi thinks he's a big piece of chocolate and she's just happy to be next to him :).
Debbie led the discussions tonight and for me what stuck out is our discussion in how we as followers of Jesus treat people. The fact of the matter is we need to see people through Jesus' eyes and love them with Jesus' heart not just through the "Go Campaign" but in all of our areas of influence. I know I need help in doing this. We are in fellowship and partnering with each other to encourage, exhort and love each other in our pursuit of Jesus-likeness. Each day is an opportunity to do that!
Rob
Friday, May 25, 2007
Womack Family Addition!
Just a quick note to let you know taht we are now proud parents of our 2nd child - Ella Grace Womack. She was born on May 22nd, 2007 at 2:03 pm, weighing at 7lb and 5oz and measuring at 20 inches. Everyone is doing great and Jadon is very happy to meet his new sister.
God bless ... Brian & Elizabeth (& Jadon)
God bless ... Brian & Elizabeth (& Jadon)
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Struggling with "GO"
Dear community,
As I confessed in LG on Monday night I have been struggling with where the Lord would have me in the "GO" Campaign. Thank you for listening to my confession and not condemning or judging me in this time. I love and value all of your wisdom in this and I have been seeking the Lord in this. I will be going to at least one of the prayer times offered this week at ROCKHARBOR so I do have a peace as to what is going on. I am feeling tired and weak spiritually, so I am responding the only way I know works-- through Him and His Word. It says in Matthew 11:28, "...come to me all of you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest."
My fear is that maybe I have taken a few steps back from my relationship with Him, or, have just not been spending the time with Him that I require. All this I share that I may solicit your prayers-- because I love all of you and want to be honest with you.
Seeking His face,
Rob
As I confessed in LG on Monday night I have been struggling with where the Lord would have me in the "GO" Campaign. Thank you for listening to my confession and not condemning or judging me in this time. I love and value all of your wisdom in this and I have been seeking the Lord in this. I will be going to at least one of the prayer times offered this week at ROCKHARBOR so I do have a peace as to what is going on. I am feeling tired and weak spiritually, so I am responding the only way I know works-- through Him and His Word. It says in Matthew 11:28, "...come to me all of you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest."
My fear is that maybe I have taken a few steps back from my relationship with Him, or, have just not been spending the time with Him that I require. All this I share that I may solicit your prayers-- because I love all of you and want to be honest with you.
Seeking His face,
Rob
Monday, April 16, 2007
Tracey & Orbital Express
I know that my lovely, beautiful wife has been missing these last 2 months (and could be for more, but she has been working on some incredible stuff (real technical lingo huh?)in space. Check out the link below:
http://www.boeing.com/ids/advanced_systems/orbital/oe_mm/index.html
Here is the text from her email:
"Click on the last video - should have Scenario 1 in the title
I did all the operations requirements for this (planned and integrated all the activities so we can do it) - so Randy will be flight, but I did a lot of the work behind the scenes. He said to me tonight that it will go smoothly (ha - see - nickname!) since I planned it, and he also mentioned that I would be praying for it. If you could - please join me in praying for a blessing on Monday - for the operations to go smoothly
- for us to make wise decisions - for Him to simply cover the spacecraft and us.
You are my mate for life and I love you. Thank you again for the sacrifice you made to come out here and be with me."
Words cannot expressed how blessed I am to be married to such a gifted, intelligent, loving and smokin' hot wife :)!
Rob
http://www.boeing.com/ids/advanced_systems/orbital/oe_mm/index.html
Here is the text from her email:
"Click on the last video - should have Scenario 1 in the title
I did all the operations requirements for this (planned and integrated all the activities so we can do it) - so Randy will be flight, but I did a lot of the work behind the scenes. He said to me tonight that it will go smoothly (ha - see - nickname!) since I planned it, and he also mentioned that I would be praying for it. If you could - please join me in praying for a blessing on Monday - for the operations to go smoothly
- for us to make wise decisions - for Him to simply cover the spacecraft and us.
You are my mate for life and I love you. Thank you again for the sacrifice you made to come out here and be with me."
Words cannot expressed how blessed I am to be married to such a gifted, intelligent, loving and smokin' hot wife :)!
Rob
Tracey & Orbital Express
I know that my lovely, beautiful wife has been missing these last 2 months (and could be for more, but she has been working on some incredible stuff (real technical lingo huh?)in space. Check out the link below:
http://www.boeing.com/ids/advanced_systems/orbital/oe_mm/index.html
Words cannot expressed how blessed I am to be married to such a gifted, intelligent, loving and smokin' hot wife :)!
Rob
http://www.boeing.com/ids/advanced_systems/orbital/oe_mm/index.html
Words cannot expressed how blessed I am to be married to such a gifted, intelligent, loving and smokin' hot wife :)!
Rob
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
nathan fleury
hi life group. here's the info on my student. his name is nathan fleury. he's 8 years old and was in a car accident on March 1st. he's been in a coma ever since and they think he has extensive brain damage. please pray for him to come out of the coma this week with NO brain damage. we're praying for a miracle and also to see how God can use us in this family's life. i'll keep you posted with ways we can serve them. thank you so much for praying for nathan. you can pray for his family too... older brother brandon and single dad, patrick. mom passed away 5 years ago.
love you guys,
meg
love you guys,
meg
Monday, March 12, 2007
Prayer Request from Meghan Kennedy
I wanted to ask the group to pray for one of my students who was in a car accident and is now in a coma over at Western Medical Center.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Cassi Norland Update!
Dear Friends and Family,
I am sorry that it has been so long since I've emailed a report about Cassidy's health, especially since so many of you have inquired.
However, for a long time there was not much to say, since we were in the middle of a six week testing period. For six straight weeks I had to get her blood drawn twice a week, in order for the doctors to determine if there was a Nutrafill blood "cycle" happening that might shed some light on why her counts were always so low. They were speculating that perhaps she had "Cyclical Nutrapinia," where her immune system only had low periods, rather than being low all the time.
However, we got reports throughout the process that her Nutrafills were remaining consistently low so they doubted that there was any cycle actually happening. (& for those of you that I have not kept informed, that has been the main concern over all these months. Her Nutrafills are a key part of her immune system, -her "first line of defense" against germs- and they have been incredibly low for a very long time.)
So anyway, we finished the six weeks of blood draws, and today was the big day to consult with the Hematologist about what the next step was. Specifically, when and how they were going to start testing her bone marrow which has been the anticipated next hurdle for a long time.
However, we went today and the first thing the doctor told us, was that they had made a diagnosis! She told us that they had officially decided that Cass must have "Auto Immune Neutrapinia." Basically it is a disease where your body's enzymes confuse it's own Nutrafills as being invaders, much like Lupus. It constantly attacks it's own white blood cells and therefore constantly has a low Nutrafill count. The reason they think Cassi has this, is because it is common for a child with A.I.N. to appear quite healthy and to rarely get a serious illness in spite of the low white blood cells. (which is true of Cassi. She appears to get colds frequently, but has yet to get seriously sick.) But the wonderful thing about this diagnosis, is that most children outgrow the disease by their third birthday! Praise the Lord! The doctor said to really keep an eye on her for high fevers, etc. but that she felt fairly certain that this is what Cass has been struggling with, and therefore no bone marrow testing is needed! She said that whenever she's done bone marrow biopsies, it has been on very sick children, and Cassi just does not fit the profile of a child who needs all that invasive testing done! Josh and I were astonished because we have been told many times that bone marrow investigation was the next step, and we hardly dared hope that we wouldn't have to put Cass through that. Thank the Lord!
The other interesting thing we learned, is that the doctor suspects that what we have been mistaking as frequent colds in Cassi, might actually be allergies! So we are going to investigate that a little further and attempt to determine if perhaps she's allergic to our cat or dust mites or whatever. But that diagnosis does make sense because while she seems to have a constant runny nose, she doesn't always act sick or uncomfortable. So maybe our family history of allergies has manifested itself in little Cassi!
But in any case, we are still dumbfounded that the doctors expect Cassi to outgrown the low Nutrafills and that no further testing is required. After 4 months we are at the end of the line! Thank the Lord!
And thank you, for all the prayers and all the concern. We are so relived to have a good report at the end of it all & so relived to be done with all the doctor visits and poking and prodding. God is good!
I attached a picture of our sweet baby. Thanks again for praying!
Christy
I am sorry that it has been so long since I've emailed a report about Cassidy's health, especially since so many of you have inquired.
However, for a long time there was not much to say, since we were in the middle of a six week testing period. For six straight weeks I had to get her blood drawn twice a week, in order for the doctors to determine if there was a Nutrafill blood "cycle" happening that might shed some light on why her counts were always so low. They were speculating that perhaps she had "Cyclical Nutrapinia," where her immune system only had low periods, rather than being low all the time.
However, we got reports throughout the process that her Nutrafills were remaining consistently low so they doubted that there was any cycle actually happening. (& for those of you that I have not kept informed, that has been the main concern over all these months. Her Nutrafills are a key part of her immune system, -her "first line of defense" against germs- and they have been incredibly low for a very long time.)
So anyway, we finished the six weeks of blood draws, and today was the big day to consult with the Hematologist about what the next step was. Specifically, when and how they were going to start testing her bone marrow which has been the anticipated next hurdle for a long time.
However, we went today and the first thing the doctor told us, was that they had made a diagnosis! She told us that they had officially decided that Cass must have "Auto Immune Neutrapinia." Basically it is a disease where your body's enzymes confuse it's own Nutrafills as being invaders, much like Lupus. It constantly attacks it's own white blood cells and therefore constantly has a low Nutrafill count. The reason they think Cassi has this, is because it is common for a child with A.I.N. to appear quite healthy and to rarely get a serious illness in spite of the low white blood cells. (which is true of Cassi. She appears to get colds frequently, but has yet to get seriously sick.) But the wonderful thing about this diagnosis, is that most children outgrow the disease by their third birthday! Praise the Lord! The doctor said to really keep an eye on her for high fevers, etc. but that she felt fairly certain that this is what Cass has been struggling with, and therefore no bone marrow testing is needed! She said that whenever she's done bone marrow biopsies, it has been on very sick children, and Cassi just does not fit the profile of a child who needs all that invasive testing done! Josh and I were astonished because we have been told many times that bone marrow investigation was the next step, and we hardly dared hope that we wouldn't have to put Cass through that. Thank the Lord!
The other interesting thing we learned, is that the doctor suspects that what we have been mistaking as frequent colds in Cassi, might actually be allergies! So we are going to investigate that a little further and attempt to determine if perhaps she's allergic to our cat or dust mites or whatever. But that diagnosis does make sense because while she seems to have a constant runny nose, she doesn't always act sick or uncomfortable. So maybe our family history of allergies has manifested itself in little Cassi!
But in any case, we are still dumbfounded that the doctors expect Cassi to outgrown the low Nutrafills and that no further testing is required. After 4 months we are at the end of the line! Thank the Lord!
And thank you, for all the prayers and all the concern. We are so relived to have a good report at the end of it all & so relived to be done with all the doctor visits and poking and prodding. God is good!
I attached a picture of our sweet baby. Thanks again for praying!
Christy
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Josh & Sara Peary
Picture of the Miller Life Group in January 2004, before Josh & Sara's big Wedding day!
Last night at LG, we had the wonderful experience of having some of our "Old School" LG members come back and visit us-- Sara & Joshua Peary from New Zealand! It was wonderful to have them back and both of them are beautiful people with humble and compassionate hearts for the Lord!
Sara will be interviewing for a position that could keep her and Josh in the States for the next 5-10 years and Josh is looking for an A&R position in the music industry! Start throwing down the prayers for them both because it would be INCREDIBLY AWESOME to have back in the MLG!
Rob
A Great, Great Story...
At a TD Club meeting many years before his death, Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant
told the following story, which was typical of the way he operated.
I had just been named the new head coach at Alabama and was off in my old
car down in South Alabama recruiting a prospect who was supposed to have
been a pretty good player and I was 'havin' trouble finding the place.
Getting hungry I spied an old cinder block building with a small sign out
front that simply said "Restaurant."
I pull up, go in and every head in the place turns to stare at me. Seems
I'm the only white 'fella' in the place. But the food smelled good.
So I skip a table and go up to a cement bar and sit. A big ole man in a tee
shirt and cap comes over and says, "What do you need?" I told him I needed
lunch and what did they have today?
He says, "You probably won't like it here, today we're having chitlins,
collared greens and black eyed peas with cornbread. I'll bet you don't even
know what chitlins are, do you?"
I looked him square in the eye and said, "I'm from Arkansas , I've probably
eaten a mile of them. Sounds like I'm in the right place." They all smiled
as he left to serve me up a big plate.
When he comes back he says, "You ain't from around here then?"
And I explain I'm the new football coach up in Tuscaloosa at the University
and I'm here to find whatever that boy's name was and he says, yeah I've
heard of him, he's suppose d to be pretty good. And he gives me directions
to the school so I can meet him and his coach. As I'm paying up to leave, I
remember my manners and leave a tip, not too big to be flashy, but a good
one and he told me lunch was on him, but I told him for a lunch that good, I
felt I should pay.
The big man asked me if I had a photograph or something he could hang up to
show I'd been there. I was so new that I didn't have any yet. It really
wasn't that big a thing back then to be asked for, but I took a napkin and
wrote his name and address on it and told him I'd get him one.
I met the kid I was 'lookin' for later that afternoon and I don't remember
his name, but do remember I didn't think much of him when I met him. I had
wasted a day, or so I thought.
When I got back to Tuscaloosa late that night, I took that napkin from my
shirt pocket and put it under my keys so I wouldn't forget it. Heck, back
then I was excited that anybody would want a picture of me. And the next day
we found a picture and I wrote on it, "Thanks for the best lunch I've ever
had. Paul Bear Bryant."
Now let's go a whole 'buncha' years down the road. Now we have black
players at Alabama and I'm back down in that part of the country scouting an
offensive lineman we sure needed. Well, he's got two friends going to
Auburn and he tells me he's got his heart set on Auburn too, so I leave
empty handed and go on to see some others while I'm down there.
Two days later, I'm in my office in Tuscaloosa and the phone rings and it's
this kid who just turned me down, and he says, "Coach, do you still want me
at Alabama?" And I said, "Yes I sure do." And he says okay, he'll come. And
I say, "Well son, what changed your mind?" And he said, "When my grandpa
found out that I had a chance to play for you and said no, he pitched a fit
and told me I wasn't going nowhere but Alabama , and wasn't playing for
nobody but you. He thinks a lot of you and has ever since y'all met."
Well, I didn't know his granddad from Adam's housecat so I asked him who his
granddaddy was and he said, "You probly don't remember him, but you ate in
his restaurant your first year at Alabama and you sent him a picture that
he's had hung in that place ever since. That picture's his pride and joy and
he still tells everybody about the day that Bear Bryant came in and had
chitlins with him. My grandpa said that when you left there, he never
expected you to remember him or to send him that picture, but you kept your
word to him and to Grandpa, that's everything. He said you could teach me
more than football and I had to play for a man like you, so I guess I'm
going to."
I was floored. But I learned that the lessons my mama taught me were always
right. It don't cost nuthin' to be nice. It don't cost 'nuthin' to do the
right thing most of the time, and it costs a lot to lose your good name by
breakin' your word to someone. When I went back to sign that boy, I looked
up his Grandpa and he's still running that place, but it looks a lot better
now; and he didn't have chitlins that day, but he had some ribs that 'wou
lda' made Dreamland proud and I made sure I posed for a lot of pictures; and
don't think I didn't leave some new ones for him, too, along with a signed
football. I made it clear to all my assistants to keep this story and these
lessons in mind when they're out on the road. And if you remember anything
else from me, remember this - It really doesn't cost anything to be nice,
and the rewards can be unimaginable.
Coach Bryant was in the presence of these few gentlemen for only minutes,
and he defined himself for life, to these gentlemen, as a nice man.
Regardless of our profession, we do define ourselves by how we treat others,
and how we behave in the presence of others, and most of the time, we have
only minutes or seconds to leave a lasting impression - we can be rude,
crude, arrogant, cantankerous, or we can be nice. Nice is always a better
choice.
I like what Stephen Grellet, French/American religious leader (1773-1855)
said, "I expect to pass through the world but once. Any good therefore that
I can do, or any kindness I can show to any creature, let me do it now. Let
me not defer it, for I shall not pass this way again."
told the following story, which was typical of the way he operated.
I had just been named the new head coach at Alabama and was off in my old
car down in South Alabama recruiting a prospect who was supposed to have
been a pretty good player and I was 'havin' trouble finding the place.
Getting hungry I spied an old cinder block building with a small sign out
front that simply said "Restaurant."
I pull up, go in and every head in the place turns to stare at me. Seems
I'm the only white 'fella' in the place. But the food smelled good.
So I skip a table and go up to a cement bar and sit. A big ole man in a tee
shirt and cap comes over and says, "What do you need?" I told him I needed
lunch and what did they have today?
He says, "You probably won't like it here, today we're having chitlins,
collared greens and black eyed peas with cornbread. I'll bet you don't even
know what chitlins are, do you?"
I looked him square in the eye and said, "I'm from Arkansas , I've probably
eaten a mile of them. Sounds like I'm in the right place." They all smiled
as he left to serve me up a big plate.
When he comes back he says, "You ain't from around here then?"
And I explain I'm the new football coach up in Tuscaloosa at the University
and I'm here to find whatever that boy's name was and he says, yeah I've
heard of him, he's suppose d to be pretty good. And he gives me directions
to the school so I can meet him and his coach. As I'm paying up to leave, I
remember my manners and leave a tip, not too big to be flashy, but a good
one and he told me lunch was on him, but I told him for a lunch that good, I
felt I should pay.
The big man asked me if I had a photograph or something he could hang up to
show I'd been there. I was so new that I didn't have any yet. It really
wasn't that big a thing back then to be asked for, but I took a napkin and
wrote his name and address on it and told him I'd get him one.
I met the kid I was 'lookin' for later that afternoon and I don't remember
his name, but do remember I didn't think much of him when I met him. I had
wasted a day, or so I thought.
When I got back to Tuscaloosa late that night, I took that napkin from my
shirt pocket and put it under my keys so I wouldn't forget it. Heck, back
then I was excited that anybody would want a picture of me. And the next day
we found a picture and I wrote on it, "Thanks for the best lunch I've ever
had. Paul Bear Bryant."
Now let's go a whole 'buncha' years down the road. Now we have black
players at Alabama and I'm back down in that part of the country scouting an
offensive lineman we sure needed. Well, he's got two friends going to
Auburn and he tells me he's got his heart set on Auburn too, so I leave
empty handed and go on to see some others while I'm down there.
Two days later, I'm in my office in Tuscaloosa and the phone rings and it's
this kid who just turned me down, and he says, "Coach, do you still want me
at Alabama?" And I said, "Yes I sure do." And he says okay, he'll come. And
I say, "Well son, what changed your mind?" And he said, "When my grandpa
found out that I had a chance to play for you and said no, he pitched a fit
and told me I wasn't going nowhere but Alabama , and wasn't playing for
nobody but you. He thinks a lot of you and has ever since y'all met."
Well, I didn't know his granddad from Adam's housecat so I asked him who his
granddaddy was and he said, "You probly don't remember him, but you ate in
his restaurant your first year at Alabama and you sent him a picture that
he's had hung in that place ever since. That picture's his pride and joy and
he still tells everybody about the day that Bear Bryant came in and had
chitlins with him. My grandpa said that when you left there, he never
expected you to remember him or to send him that picture, but you kept your
word to him and to Grandpa, that's everything. He said you could teach me
more than football and I had to play for a man like you, so I guess I'm
going to."
I was floored. But I learned that the lessons my mama taught me were always
right. It don't cost nuthin' to be nice. It don't cost 'nuthin' to do the
right thing most of the time, and it costs a lot to lose your good name by
breakin' your word to someone. When I went back to sign that boy, I looked
up his Grandpa and he's still running that place, but it looks a lot better
now; and he didn't have chitlins that day, but he had some ribs that 'wou
lda' made Dreamland proud and I made sure I posed for a lot of pictures; and
don't think I didn't leave some new ones for him, too, along with a signed
football. I made it clear to all my assistants to keep this story and these
lessons in mind when they're out on the road. And if you remember anything
else from me, remember this - It really doesn't cost anything to be nice,
and the rewards can be unimaginable.
Coach Bryant was in the presence of these few gentlemen for only minutes,
and he defined himself for life, to these gentlemen, as a nice man.
Regardless of our profession, we do define ourselves by how we treat others,
and how we behave in the presence of others, and most of the time, we have
only minutes or seconds to leave a lasting impression - we can be rude,
crude, arrogant, cantankerous, or we can be nice. Nice is always a better
choice.
I like what Stephen Grellet, French/American religious leader (1773-1855)
said, "I expect to pass through the world but once. Any good therefore that
I can do, or any kindness I can show to any creature, let me do it now. Let
me not defer it, for I shall not pass this way again."
Monday, February 19, 2007
Nacke visit to MLG
Hi All~
Thanks for welcoming us with such love~!
Thanks for welcoming us with such love~!
We miss you all~
God Bless,
The Nackes
Cory, Mindy & Tessa
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Am I My Brother's Keeper?
My Utmost for His Highest - February 15
Title: Am I My Brother's Keeper?
Key Verse: None of us liveth to himself.
Click link below to study this verse: Romans 14:7
http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=ro+14:7
Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible for other souls spiritually before God? For instance, if I allow any private deflection from God in my life, everyone about me suffers. We "sit together in heavenly places." "Whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it." When once you allow physical selfishness, mental slovenliness, moral obtuseness, spiritual density, everyone belonging to your crowd will suffer. "But," you say, "who is sufficient for these things if you erect a standard like that?" "Our sufficiency is of God," and of Him alone.
"Ye shall be My witnesses." How many of us are willing to spend every ounce of nervous energy, of mental, moral and spiritual energy we have for Jesus Christ? That is the meaning of a witness in God's sense of the word.
It takes time, be patient with yourself. God has left us on the earth - what for? To be saved and sanctified? No, to be at it for Him. Am I willing to be broken bread and poured out wine for Him? To be spoilt for this age, for this life, to be spoilt from every standpoint but one - saving as I can disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life as a worker is the way I say "thank you" to God for His unspeakable salvation. Remember it is quite possible for any one of us to be flung out as reprobate silver - ". . . lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taken from 'My Utmost for His Highest', by Oswald Chambers. © l935 by Dodd Mead & Co., renewed © 1963 by the Oswald Chambers Publications Assn., Ltd., and is used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Uhrichsville, Ohio.
All rights reserved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Am I My Brother's Keeper?
Key Verse: None of us liveth to himself.
Click link below to study this verse: Romans 14:7
http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=ro+14:7
Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible for other souls spiritually before God? For instance, if I allow any private deflection from God in my life, everyone about me suffers. We "sit together in heavenly places." "Whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it." When once you allow physical selfishness, mental slovenliness, moral obtuseness, spiritual density, everyone belonging to your crowd will suffer. "But," you say, "who is sufficient for these things if you erect a standard like that?" "Our sufficiency is of God," and of Him alone.
"Ye shall be My witnesses." How many of us are willing to spend every ounce of nervous energy, of mental, moral and spiritual energy we have for Jesus Christ? That is the meaning of a witness in God's sense of the word.
It takes time, be patient with yourself. God has left us on the earth - what for? To be saved and sanctified? No, to be at it for Him. Am I willing to be broken bread and poured out wine for Him? To be spoilt for this age, for this life, to be spoilt from every standpoint but one - saving as I can disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life as a worker is the way I say "thank you" to God for His unspeakable salvation. Remember it is quite possible for any one of us to be flung out as reprobate silver - ". . . lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taken from 'My Utmost for His Highest', by Oswald Chambers. © l935 by Dodd Mead & Co., renewed © 1963 by the Oswald Chambers Publications Assn., Ltd., and is used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Uhrichsville, Ohio.
All rights reserved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Stumbling around in His Mercy and Grace
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. Colossians 1:9-12
Living, pleasing, bearing, growing, being strengthened. Powerful and attainable goals in our relationships with Jesus, however it seems that the most difficult challenge is truly living for the Lord. Assuming that the Apostle Paul was intentional in his writings implying a "process" for a Christ-like life you can't help but wonder if we do the first element of committing our lives to "living" for Jesus the rest of these will come upon us and transform us naturally and spiritually. If we live for Jesus, He will be pleased by our desire to give our all for Him. If we give our all for Him, we naturally "bear fruit" for the Him resulting in good works by serving others (instead of ourselves). By "bearing fruit" and serving others we gain more knowledge of God's loving and compassionate nature. Once we have gone through this process we will know a life of JOY giving thanks to the Father.
In all my 12 years of reading my Bible this is the first time that this verse has "jumped out" at me. It just goes to show that there is always new wisdom to be discovered every day from reading the Word.
Robert
Living, pleasing, bearing, growing, being strengthened. Powerful and attainable goals in our relationships with Jesus, however it seems that the most difficult challenge is truly living for the Lord. Assuming that the Apostle Paul was intentional in his writings implying a "process" for a Christ-like life you can't help but wonder if we do the first element of committing our lives to "living" for Jesus the rest of these will come upon us and transform us naturally and spiritually. If we live for Jesus, He will be pleased by our desire to give our all for Him. If we give our all for Him, we naturally "bear fruit" for the Him resulting in good works by serving others (instead of ourselves). By "bearing fruit" and serving others we gain more knowledge of God's loving and compassionate nature. Once we have gone through this process we will know a life of JOY giving thanks to the Father.
In all my 12 years of reading my Bible this is the first time that this verse has "jumped out" at me. It just goes to show that there is always new wisdom to be discovered every day from reading the Word.
Robert
Monday, February 12, 2007
Life Group Prayer Capsule
This week at Life Group we opened the envelope containing our Prayer Capsules from August 29, 2005. Here's what was inside...
Jacin- 1. For us to own a house in Costa Mesa. (God's way!) 2. For our business to flourish and remain fruitful.
Debbie- That God would provide for me to be able to stay home- not to work.
Dianne- My prayer is for my daughter to be married to a Christian man who loves Jesus with all his heart... and loves her, AND her son Jared the way God would. Jared wants and needs a dad and Kirsten wants a husband to take care of her heart.
Brian- Complete financial freedom- promotion in career.
Mindy- Biggest prayer request of the year- to get pregnant and have a healthy baby.
Tracey- For the Lord to provide a way for us to have children (FOR ME TO TRUST HIM THAT HE WILL!!!)
Dave Miller- For David II to turn his heart to God. That I will be faithful in the manner God wants me to be.
Kelly- 1. House 2. New job that allows more family time. 3. Our business to have a significant increase.
Susie- That my husband would be at peace with the Lord- loving Him and loving each other in the marriage.
Cory- That the Lord blesses us with a healthy baby.
Robert- Trip to Austrailia so we can have kids.
Jacin- 1. For us to own a house in Costa Mesa. (God's way!) 2. For our business to flourish and remain fruitful.
Debbie- That God would provide for me to be able to stay home- not to work.
Dianne- My prayer is for my daughter to be married to a Christian man who loves Jesus with all his heart... and loves her, AND her son Jared the way God would. Jared wants and needs a dad and Kirsten wants a husband to take care of her heart.
Brian- Complete financial freedom- promotion in career.
Mindy- Biggest prayer request of the year- to get pregnant and have a healthy baby.
Tracey- For the Lord to provide a way for us to have children (FOR ME TO TRUST HIM THAT HE WILL!!!)
Dave Miller- For David II to turn his heart to God. That I will be faithful in the manner God wants me to be.
Kelly- 1. House 2. New job that allows more family time. 3. Our business to have a significant increase.
Susie- That my husband would be at peace with the Lord- loving Him and loving each other in the marriage.
Cory- That the Lord blesses us with a healthy baby.
Robert- Trip to Austrailia so we can have kids.
Friday, February 02, 2007
From Greg Laurie, Harvest Ministries
Friday, February 02, 2007
Hearing His Voice
"To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out."
— John 10:3
As you get to know your Shepherd, you will come to realize that when He calls you, it is always worth obeying. When He says something, it is for your benefit. If He says, "Go this way," it is because He has green pastures and still waters for you. If He says, "Stop! Don't do that," it is because He is trying to protect you from potential danger, possibly something that is even life-threatening.
The fact that God speaks to us is clear throughout the pages of Scripture. To some, like Moses, God spoke audibly. To others, like the prophet Elijah, He spoke quietly on at least one occasion. Often we look for the big events, the earth-shaking circumstances in which God speaks. And many times He is speaking to us, but it is in a still, small voice. We should try turning off the television, the radio, and the telephone and just listen. With all the noise in our world, with all the information that bombards us, we can hear all those voices but miss the most important voice of all. Maybe one reason we don't hear Him is because we never stop and listen. We should heed the words of Psalm 46:10, which says, "Be still, and know that I am God."
Once we have heard the voice of God, we need to follow. Jesus said, "The sheep follow him, for they know his voice" (John 10:4). The word "follow" means to deliberately decide to comply with instruction. It is a deliberate choice for sheep to follow the shepherd. We need to deliberately decide to follow our Shepherd, to do what He tells us to do.
When God Almighty speaks to you in that still, small voice, will you listen? Will you follow Him?P.S. For more of my writing, check out my weekly column at WorldNetDaily. Click here to read this week's article.
Hearing His Voice
"To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out."
— John 10:3
As you get to know your Shepherd, you will come to realize that when He calls you, it is always worth obeying. When He says something, it is for your benefit. If He says, "Go this way," it is because He has green pastures and still waters for you. If He says, "Stop! Don't do that," it is because He is trying to protect you from potential danger, possibly something that is even life-threatening.
The fact that God speaks to us is clear throughout the pages of Scripture. To some, like Moses, God spoke audibly. To others, like the prophet Elijah, He spoke quietly on at least one occasion. Often we look for the big events, the earth-shaking circumstances in which God speaks. And many times He is speaking to us, but it is in a still, small voice. We should try turning off the television, the radio, and the telephone and just listen. With all the noise in our world, with all the information that bombards us, we can hear all those voices but miss the most important voice of all. Maybe one reason we don't hear Him is because we never stop and listen. We should heed the words of Psalm 46:10, which says, "Be still, and know that I am God."
Once we have heard the voice of God, we need to follow. Jesus said, "The sheep follow him, for they know his voice" (John 10:4). The word "follow" means to deliberately decide to comply with instruction. It is a deliberate choice for sheep to follow the shepherd. We need to deliberately decide to follow our Shepherd, to do what He tells us to do.
When God Almighty speaks to you in that still, small voice, will you listen? Will you follow Him?P.S. For more of my writing, check out my weekly column at WorldNetDaily. Click here to read this week's article.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Do You See Your Calling?
Yet another solid reading by Mr. Chambers.
My Utmost for His Highest - January 31
Title: Do You See Your Calling?
Key Verse: Separated unto the Gospel.
Click link below to study this verse: Romans 1:1
http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=ro+1:1
Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the Gospel of God. The one thing that is all important is that the Gospel of God should be realized as the abiding Reality. Reality is not human goodness, nor holiness, nor heaven, nor hell; but Redemption; and the need to perceive this is the most vital need of the Christian worker to-day. As workers we have to get used to the revelation that Redemption is the only Reality. Personal holiness is an effect, not a cause, and if we place our faith in human goodness, in the effect of Redemption, we shall go under when the test comes.
Paul did not say he separated himself, but - "when it pleased God who separated me. . ." Paul had not a hypersensitive interest in his own character. As long as our eyes are upon our own personal whiteness we shall never get near the reality of Redemption. Workers break down because their desire is for their own whiteness, and not for God. "Don't ask me to come into contact with the rugged reality of Redemption on behalf of the filth of human life as it is; what I want is anything God can do for me to make me more desirable in my own eyes." To talk in that way is a sign that the reality of the Gospel of God has not begun to touch me; there is no reckless abandon to God. God cannot deliver me while my interest is merely in my own character. Paul is unconscious of himself, he is recklessly abandoned, separated by God for one purpose - to proclaim the Gospel of God (cf. Rom. 9:3.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taken from 'My Utmost for His Highest', by Oswald Chambers. © l935 by Dodd Mead & Co., renewed © 1963 by the Oswald Chambers Publications Assn., Ltd., and is used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Uhrichsville, Ohio.
All rights reserved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
My Utmost for His Highest - January 31
Title: Do You See Your Calling?
Key Verse: Separated unto the Gospel.
Click link below to study this verse: Romans 1:1
http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=ro+1:1
Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the Gospel of God. The one thing that is all important is that the Gospel of God should be realized as the abiding Reality. Reality is not human goodness, nor holiness, nor heaven, nor hell; but Redemption; and the need to perceive this is the most vital need of the Christian worker to-day. As workers we have to get used to the revelation that Redemption is the only Reality. Personal holiness is an effect, not a cause, and if we place our faith in human goodness, in the effect of Redemption, we shall go under when the test comes.
Paul did not say he separated himself, but - "when it pleased God who separated me. . ." Paul had not a hypersensitive interest in his own character. As long as our eyes are upon our own personal whiteness we shall never get near the reality of Redemption. Workers break down because their desire is for their own whiteness, and not for God. "Don't ask me to come into contact with the rugged reality of Redemption on behalf of the filth of human life as it is; what I want is anything God can do for me to make me more desirable in my own eyes." To talk in that way is a sign that the reality of the Gospel of God has not begun to touch me; there is no reckless abandon to God. God cannot deliver me while my interest is merely in my own character. Paul is unconscious of himself, he is recklessly abandoned, separated by God for one purpose - to proclaim the Gospel of God (cf. Rom. 9:3.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taken from 'My Utmost for His Highest', by Oswald Chambers. © l935 by Dodd Mead & Co., renewed © 1963 by the Oswald Chambers Publications Assn., Ltd., and is used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Uhrichsville, Ohio.
All rights reserved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, January 29, 2007
Knowing When God Speaks
Welcome back to Rian and Meg Kennedy! It was so great to see them back after such a long absence. The old cliche, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder!" Knowing that some of you are reading this I thought I throw this great devotional in for you to "digest." -- Rob
P.S. This is from Greg Laurie's Harvest Devotional...
Monday, January 29, 2007
How God Speaks
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."
— John 10:27
Does God still speak to people today? Is He interested in what happens to us as individuals? Does He really have a master plan for our lives? Or are we merely victims of chance?
God is indeed interested in us as individuals. He does have a master plan for our lives, and He does want to speak to us. Jesus described Himself as our Good Shepherd. And as His sheep, we can hear His voice.
So how can we know when it is God speaking? First, we need to remember that God primarily speaks to us through His Word. He will never lead us to the contrary. We don't have to go any further than the Bible to know the will of God for our lives.God also speaks through circumstances that can include failure or even hardship. We don't enjoy it when God speaks to us through tragedy and hardship, but as C. S. Lewis said, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."
Often, I have found that if something is the will of God, then it will be confirmed. There are times when I feel the Lord has been speaking to me through circumstances, such as an opportunity that has opened up. But I never make decisions by looking at circumstances alone.
Lastly, God speaks to us through His peace. Colossians 3:15 tells us, "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts . . . " God is the author of peace, not of confusion.Maybe we hear the voice of God more often than we think. The question is, are we really listening?
P.S. This is from Greg Laurie's Harvest Devotional...
Monday, January 29, 2007
How God Speaks
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."
— John 10:27
Does God still speak to people today? Is He interested in what happens to us as individuals? Does He really have a master plan for our lives? Or are we merely victims of chance?
God is indeed interested in us as individuals. He does have a master plan for our lives, and He does want to speak to us. Jesus described Himself as our Good Shepherd. And as His sheep, we can hear His voice.
So how can we know when it is God speaking? First, we need to remember that God primarily speaks to us through His Word. He will never lead us to the contrary. We don't have to go any further than the Bible to know the will of God for our lives.God also speaks through circumstances that can include failure or even hardship. We don't enjoy it when God speaks to us through tragedy and hardship, but as C. S. Lewis said, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."
Often, I have found that if something is the will of God, then it will be confirmed. There are times when I feel the Lord has been speaking to me through circumstances, such as an opportunity that has opened up. But I never make decisions by looking at circumstances alone.
Lastly, God speaks to us through His peace. Colossians 3:15 tells us, "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts . . . " God is the author of peace, not of confusion.Maybe we hear the voice of God more often than we think. The question is, are we really listening?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)