The Divine Pursuit

Hello everyone, we'll be studying Jonah for the next several weeks:

The Divine Pursuit

Have you ever felt stuck …between God and a hard place? Have you ever known what God wanted you to do, but refused to do it? Have you run from Him, physically, emotionally or mentally? Do you wonder why obedience is hard, resistance is real, and the idea of being transformed by God doesn’t come easy? Take heart. You’ve got a friend in Jonah.

Discover God’s pursuit of you and his purpose for your life in this six-week study of Jonah, The Divine Pursuit.

Author and counselor Nicole Unice invites you to identify the true Nineveh places of your heart: those unexpected (and sometimes unwanted) people and circumstances God calls you to love. In the process, you’ll follow the story of a struggling prophet while recognizing and overcoming your own resistance to change.

Perfect for individual or group study, this workbook includes:

• A short, daily guided study through the book of Jonah that goes deep but doesn’t take all day
• An available leader guide with creative and thought-provoking questions and exercises.
• Web-based video instruction for each week.
• Access to an on-line group facilitated by Nicole (Jan 2011)

The workbook will also provide:

• Encouragement for those who wonder if their disappointments, failures or stubbornness
  disqualify them from living a life of freedom and purpose.
• Understanding of the surprising people and circumstances that God uses to spur on a relationship with Him.
• An opportunity to understand your own spiritual rhythms by reflecting on Jonah’s choices.

In The Divine Pursuit, you will discover a God who invites you to follow him on a surprising heart journey. Destination? A life of freedom, purpose and passion.

Resisting the Grace of God

"Can a person successfully resist the grace of God?" At first, my thoughts moved into the theoretical, the hypothetical, and the theological. However, as I prayed and meditated, I found myself asking God to clear all my thoughts so that I could hear what I needed to hear. Before long, I found myself asking not about Calvanism nor Arminianism, not even Rebeccaism, but I began to ask, "God what really is your "grace." Is it favor? Is it mercy? Is it kindness? Is it empowerment? Is it understanding? Is it beauty even? What if its all that??? Is it possible to resist it? reject it? be hardened by whatever --life-- so much that I reach for it and somehow can't seem to hold on to it? By experience, I would have to assert that sometimes I can see, feel, and hear "grace" pursuing me but that has not always been the case. In my past, I didn't know how to "let" grace in. I wanted to, but my mind, soul, spirit, and actions were somehow unexplainably separate from that grace. Grace was there, but I didn't know how to hold on to it. Thank-God, it held on to me.

Remembering 9/11 We All Cried Out to God

Remember that on 9/11 Americans lost their lives, not any particular faith group. It was no question that we all needed God. The Cry to God was loud and helpless. We all reached out with great compassion, love, and respect and helped each other. Let's remember that and learn from it.

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1.03.01

Series: What's In the Bible & Why Do I Care?
January's Lessons: What's in the Bible & How Do I Use It?
Jan 27 - Feb 3 Chapter 2 History


Please be in prayer for Pastor Rebecca. She is currently has a mild infection. On today, Feb 3, Megan Manning will fill in on Chapter 2.

Stuff you should know: Be able to recite the books of the Bible from Genesis through Esther. We will go over this on February 10. Be able to explain the difference between General Revelation and Special Revelation. Seek to notice and understand the various literary forms used in the Bible. Put at least 1 Bible fact to memory.

Blog On here with your comments and questions.

Ponder this: How do I become more consistent with my spiritual disciplines? Bible study? Prayer? Fasting? Fellowship? Church attendance?

Love you all, Pastor Rebecca

What's In the Bible & Why Do I Care?

Series: What's In the Bible & Why Do I Care?
January's Lessons: What's in the Bible & How Do I Use It?
January 20 -January 27 Chapter 1 How to Use the Bible

Greetings!

We studied this week about revelation. There is General Revelation and Special Revelation. This week we concentrated on General Revelation. General Revelation is related to natural ways in which God reveals God's existence. We experienced "Aha" moments as we each personally read from these scripture and learned that God revealed Himself through Creation, History, & Humanity: Creation: Ps 19:1; Ro 1:20; Acts 14:15-17; History: Job 12:13-25; Ps 98:2; Is 40:5; Acts 4:15-17 Humanity: Acts 17:22; Ro 2:14; Ps 19, Mt 5:45, Ro 1:20.

We also learned about differing Bible translations and paraphrases, about the Apocrypha, and how to find a reference in the Bible.

We learned the 1st 5 books of the Bible known as the Books of Moses and the Law/the Torah/the Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

Your assignment:
1.Re-read the scripture regarding General Revelation above.
2.Write in your journal how God reveals something new to you?
3. Jot down any questions you may have and also write any comments or questions in the comment section here.
4. Memorize the 1st 5 Books of the Bible.
5. To be prepared for class, read Chapter 1 and the next section on your handout entitled "God has revealed Himself through Special Revelation." Look up all related scripture and jot down notes and questions.
6. Look up any words you don't recognize.

Remember that you are on a journey. Right now you are learning to how to strengthen your legs so that you can walk a long way. Remember that God loves you regardless of your past, present, and future!

With the love of Christ,

Pastor Rebecca

( I am especially looking to see your comments here.) So BLOG ON!

Haiti

From Humbug to Hallelujah

During this Advent season, we have been preparing our hearts, changing our thoughts, and working to break chains we've forged in life in order to experience the manifest presence of God this Christmas. We have found that we have focused on the wrong stuff at Christmas time and so we are rekindling the joy and expectancy of the coming of the infant in a manger. We even did a little couples dancing at the end of our service this past Sunday! WOW! What an expression of the joy we have inside.

As we have prepared, we've learned some lessons from Charles Dickens story, "A Christmas Carol" which is about a miserly old business man named Ebenezer Scrooge who responds to the festivities of the Christmas season with a hearty, "Bah Humbug." To Scrooge Christmas is " a time for paying bills without money, a time for finding yourself another year older and not an hour richer." Yet, he is confronted by his nephew, Fred, who is filled with Christmas cheer. His idea is that Christmas is all about giving it away. It is a time of forgiveness, a time of charity, a time when people open their closed hearts to other people.

I encourage you today, to decide to place the focus this Christmas on Christ, not presents--not money--not problems. Remember that Jesus came as a babe, grew up, proclaimed the Kingdom of God, died at a young age, was resurrected, ascended to the heavens, and is coming back! Because we have this good news, we can break chains, mend relationships, sing as if no one is listening, dance like there is no tomorrow, and live our lives in service to others. We can express an inner joy that no one on this earth nor in hell can suppress! For God has always been there for us, will always be there, and one day we'll see him face to face! Whoa! I am getting all excited just writing about it! My Jesus, Oh what a wonderful child! New life, new hope, new joy he brings! No Humbugs---Shout Hallelujah instead.

May the Spirit of the Living God fill you with joy as we celebrate the birth of Christ this Christmas,

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Pastor Rebecca