tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34931613438919398202024-02-07T13:48:52.862-06:00WE ChristmasWE Christmas lets us rediscover the original meaning of Christmas together. From Thanksgiving to Christmas WE will look at Jesus as hope to a discouraging world, joy to a painful world, love to an indifferent world, peace to a busy world, and grace to a broken world. Do the devotional and join the conversation.
WE Worship on Sunday mornings at Millard West High School at 9:00 and 10:30 and on Sunday evenings at Palisades Elementary at 6:00.Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-55648298712408230592013-12-25T06:00:00.000-06:002013-12-25T06:51:38.938-06:00A Christmas Prayer<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Almighty God, </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You have given us your Son. You have given us Yourself. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Emmanuel. God is with us. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we are angry, afraid, alone, and anxious. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are with us. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we celebrate, are courageous, live in community, and are calm. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are with us.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKf2Y68XFTUQew38mdFfjFt_5chuPq6uuhcOIsaRoxN-WGj1MgHW4upUHHp-2AU2fQgmEnVwQ9Tu9qXX8lOCY2HbyJAkQUjcpX93sQSff7s1DbJjWjziE5WfSVTPYtR01qrn7ap5dadx0/s1600/candles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKf2Y68XFTUQew38mdFfjFt_5chuPq6uuhcOIsaRoxN-WGj1MgHW4upUHHp-2AU2fQgmEnVwQ9Tu9qXX8lOCY2HbyJAkQUjcpX93sQSff7s1DbJjWjziE5WfSVTPYtR01qrn7ap5dadx0/s640/candles.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>158</o:Words>
<o:Characters>905</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>7</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1111</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let this Christmas be our yearly reminder of your grace: </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You give us the Hope of the World. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bring hope to the world and to our world. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With a baby, you brought joy into the world on this day so many years ago. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help us accept this gift and share it with others. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You give us love in the person of Jesus. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help us to experience your love and to be more loving to others and to ourselves. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You give us the Prince of Peace. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bring peace to the world and to our world. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You give us the Resurrection and the Life. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Raise us to new levels of life. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through the piles of presents – remind us of your presence. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are with us. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In our brokenness and busyness – remind us who you are and whose we are.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are with us. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus is the Light of the World! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you for lighting our path. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help us to be a reflection of his light to the world. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You have given us your Son. You have given us Yourself. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Emmanuel. God is with us. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Encourage us to accept and embrace this most wonderful gift. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Teach us that it is more blessed to give than to receive. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christmas. This day and because of this day. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are with us. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amen! </span></div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-66107581403281153472013-12-21T00:00:00.000-06:002013-12-21T00:00:08.211-06:00Joy and Boredom<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life is never boring but some people choose to be bored. The concept of boredom entails an inability to use up present moments in a personally fulfilling way. Boredom is a choice and self-defeating behavior that stands in opposition to joy. As boredom increases joy will decrease. As joy increases boredom will decrease. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God Says </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy. So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless. So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind. –Ecclesiastes 2:21-26</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyiRfJ7xyGaEtk9aduRePm3u04KK8W_O7NNze64uXTysBvFIqy5KRuE8olzSYEPhJP58-30k3C-_Bilc9ANOXt3KDuw9Qdit2TjOiQtZzvnjIDYeSBntLZ5HZXv9KuB1E2hBKhTDKyTM/s1600/No-Boredom-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyiRfJ7xyGaEtk9aduRePm3u04KK8W_O7NNze64uXTysBvFIqy5KRuE8olzSYEPhJP58-30k3C-_Bilc9ANOXt3KDuw9Qdit2TjOiQtZzvnjIDYeSBntLZ5HZXv9KuB1E2hBKhTDKyTM/s640/No-Boredom-300x300.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Something to Think About </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The writer of Ecclesiastes was experiencing boredom in his life. He mentions three times how life is meaningless, like chasing the wind. The reader can sense boredom and meaninglessness has replaced any and all joy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Talk about or think about: Do you ever feel bored or experience boredom? Can you be joyful and bored at the same time? In what ways can you cooperate with God so that God can make you a new creation—absent of boredom and full of joy? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Prayer </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God - </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Boredom is part of my life. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /> I am missing out on the beauty of Your world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Some days I feel only like I am going through the motions of life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My relationships with others need more health and vitality. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My relationship with You sometimes lacks excitement and joy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want joy to be a bigger part of my life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I pray busyness and boredom don’t block the blessings of life. <br />I pray for the grace to receive love and for the strength to love You and others. <br />Help me love and be loved. <br /><br />Bless me with Your joy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Amen.</i></span>
<!--EndFragment-->Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-54787039808518336282013-12-20T00:00:00.000-06:002013-12-20T00:00:15.093-06:00Time and Joy<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dr. Suess asked the question: “How did it get so late so soon?” Many of us have asked similar questions: How is it possible my child is starting Kindergarten? How is it possible I am retiring? How did this vacation end so soon? Our dreams and visions are for abundance and joy. Not for time to pass by so fast. Yet the clock is predictable and relentless. Paul’s instruction is to make the best possible use of the time we have and to be open to the rhythms of God’s grace and joy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God Says</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. –Ephesians 5:15-17</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOAuAwsh8RghXl4PFH3-fzfxdboD7IRIo-J5zeq-j-tu5_PeE7_WkGwefJiOhxHFaeRifWb0553UKre6eE65PeJNLkgJ1LrDd_GHW6Ij2P6XXhfH3V4F6ztBYoYvc_gjNafHjjyf4niM/s1600/joy_clock-rb591de9d20304d49be1caa0cca851b50_fup1s_8byvr_512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOAuAwsh8RghXl4PFH3-fzfxdboD7IRIo-J5zeq-j-tu5_PeE7_WkGwefJiOhxHFaeRifWb0553UKre6eE65PeJNLkgJ1LrDd_GHW6Ij2P6XXhfH3V4F6ztBYoYvc_gjNafHjjyf4niM/s400/joy_clock-rb591de9d20304d49be1caa0cca851b50_fup1s_8byvr_512.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Something to Think About </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many people report they are too busy. Others say that life is passing by too quickly. And others share they don’t have time to do the things they want to do. Being too busy and not having enough time for God is a barrier to the joy God wants to give you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think or talk about the following questions: What are some areas of your life that are not the best use of your time? What would you like to be doing more of? Do you feel you have enough time to spend with God? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make a plan to create environments where you can connect to God and experience joy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Prayer </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank You for creating me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank You for the gift of time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are good and generous. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I confess the times I have wasted time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I confess the times I have been foolish and not wise. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Forgive me for being a poor steward to the gift of time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help me not be too busy for You. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Teach me to be smart with my time and let me live in the present. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help me create environments where I can experience Your joy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Amen.</i></span>Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-92111068165757360672013-12-19T00:00:00.000-06:002013-12-19T00:00:10.588-06:00Joy and Anger<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anger is an obstacle to joy. It is not possible to simultaneously experience anger and joy. God’s plan for your life isn’t anger. God’s plan for your life is joy. Which would you rather live out: anger or joy? </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God Says </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Parents, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. –Ephesians 6:4 </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm. –Psalm 37:8</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qVW-CcTT9_6rBPpc4krDoyyugKb8Pfd5M56g9V54VWZ1xVyhY9K3jicNjaqiOKer9KM3wHW97tDpw3nx9c4twI-oMGyuehYwy74TgIgrlFqo1B9fEFECcW2NI0_HWUUwQ9uk193lcW0/s1600/15379136-three-funny-television-expressing-different-emotions--indifference-joy-anger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qVW-CcTT9_6rBPpc4krDoyyugKb8Pfd5M56g9V54VWZ1xVyhY9K3jicNjaqiOKer9KM3wHW97tDpw3nx9c4twI-oMGyuehYwy74TgIgrlFqo1B9fEFECcW2NI0_HWUUwQ9uk193lcW0/s400/15379136-three-funny-television-expressing-different-emotions--indifference-joy-anger.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>164</o:Words>
<o:Characters>939</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>7</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1153</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Something to Think About </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Paul is writing to parents near the end of his letter to the Ephesians. He knows that anger promotes anger, neglect promotes loneliness, and discipline creates fruitfulness, abundance, and joy. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think about or talk about some of the times you have been angry. What was that like for you? What was that like for people around you? What correlation did anger have to any joy you may have been experiencing? What are some things you can do to more constructively handle things that anger you so that they don’t eliminate or reduce your joy. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Prayer </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God - </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I confess, at times, my response to anger has not been good. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have hurt people I love. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have hurt people You love. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have hurt myself. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give me a heart for things that break Your heart. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let my words be encouraging and not destructive. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help me to act with compassion and grace. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May I be a reflection of You. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don’t let my anger prevent others from experiencing joy. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don’t let my anger prevent me from experiencing joy. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fill me with Your joy. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let Your joy in my life be a light to the world. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Amen. </i></span></div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-43310799858527782362013-12-18T00:00:00.000-06:002013-12-18T00:00:01.906-06:00The Potential and Permanence of Joy<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joy opens up possibilities for today and potential for the future. When God gives others can’t take away. Joy is not temporary based on circumstance. It is permanent based on God. Joy is because of God and through God. God doesn’t change. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God Says </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No one can rob you of that joy. –John 16:22 </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. –James 1:2-4</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCoaQQSVgsu5M0Tih_K8EZFCC_54PLNqpOmo_BHsnpMvbrptZy7dc9fyB0GdelbEJ5IY7ysGiTzHGzMCQfthCrfBwtSBdiazt8ZejFsc6VYcR9qftOSmG4o7T16aS1ouVR3u9dY_rFdo/s1600/joy+wordle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCoaQQSVgsu5M0Tih_K8EZFCC_54PLNqpOmo_BHsnpMvbrptZy7dc9fyB0GdelbEJ5IY7ysGiTzHGzMCQfthCrfBwtSBdiazt8ZejFsc6VYcR9qftOSmG4o7T16aS1ouVR3u9dY_rFdo/s640/joy+wordle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /> <b>Something to Think About </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Troubles in life can draw us closer to God. Intimacy with God gives us more joy. Pain and suffering isn’t the easiest way to experience joy—but joy can have unlikely sources. And joy can also be permanent. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think about things or people or places that make you happy. Now think about things or people or places that make you unhappy. Describe a time when you went through a difficult event or season in life and how you experienced God’s presence during that time. Think about what your life would look like if it were defined by joy – a gift from God always available to you. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Prayer </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God - </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help me to seek You in all circumstances. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> During days of health and happiness. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> During nights of uncertainty and pain. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Keep drawing me closer to You. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Being grateful for blessedness. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Being hopeful for healing. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During times of trials and trouble </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Let me more fully embrace Your grace. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Let me more fully experience Your love. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In all times, because of Your goodness. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Bless me with Your gift of joy. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Let me live out that joy each day. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /> <i>Amen.</i></span>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-9720965578406787322013-12-17T00:00:00.000-06:002013-12-17T21:08:16.221-06:00Sadness and Joy<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grief, pain, and sadness are part of life. They are all inevitable. But death, disease, and dysfunction don’t have to define us. All have been defeated and will be defeated again. We can be defined by joy!</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God Says</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. –John 16:20</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49wdDoEqhDiPu5QHCGiii_s-0ZN7YKfgJegeDW4D6plIrmezX6o2_3YJpRGnk5etgaT01bVX4dJ98rfP_qY40qlkZGq2KhDc7rT0-uF6ta_6NcMy-x7caay9KQKvB0xml9hQB_AoflMM/s1600/Sadness+and+joy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49wdDoEqhDiPu5QHCGiii_s-0ZN7YKfgJegeDW4D6plIrmezX6o2_3YJpRGnk5etgaT01bVX4dJ98rfP_qY40qlkZGq2KhDc7rT0-uF6ta_6NcMy-x7caay9KQKvB0xml9hQB_AoflMM/s400/Sadness+and+joy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>143</o:Words>
<o:Characters>820</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>6</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1007</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Something to Think About </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus was telling his disciples they will experience loss. He was foreshadowing his own death. He also promises that grief is not where we are to remain. Grief can turn into joy. God’s plan for your life is not suffering. God’s plan for your life is joy! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Write a short letter to God about some of the grief or pain or brokenness in your life. Be honest. Be real. Tell God this isn’t where you want to remain and pray for joy in your life. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Prayer </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God - </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have experienced loss in my life. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am experiencing loss in my life. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been hurt but people I love. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have hurt people I love. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have hurt myself. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People I love have been hurt or are hurting. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know what it is like to have a loved one die. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The pain of the world is evident to me. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yet in the midst of despair Your voice still speaks. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is a voice of hope. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is a voice of peace. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is a voice that promises joy. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Turn my sorrows in joy. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Amen.</i></span></div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-48986642737946285862013-12-16T00:00:00.000-06:002013-12-16T12:03:26.723-06:00Prayer and Joy<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last week we looked at the relationship between peace and prayer. Today we look at the relationship between joy and prayer. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God Says </b><br /><br /> You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. –John 16:33</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HZFOf8l5O45gnuomGjKCj9Jl4JkZNutBztqAsJ2gHP5ANovc4dpLVBNwmyt7dyNUNEtCYh0O6ck_lpoB52ejHZAOto2VuYT0TJ3LDm4vHx-UFM2wNYrwRSWIklYmz_lsZAeUPgNR1Ys/s1600/joy+prayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HZFOf8l5O45gnuomGjKCj9Jl4JkZNutBztqAsJ2gHP5ANovc4dpLVBNwmyt7dyNUNEtCYh0O6ck_lpoB52ejHZAOto2VuYT0TJ3LDm4vHx-UFM2wNYrwRSWIklYmz_lsZAeUPgNR1Ys/s400/joy+prayer.jpg" width="397" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>147</o:Words>
<o:Characters>840</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>7</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1031</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Something to Think About </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Would you describe your life as full of joy? Is there quite a bit of joy? Is there some joy? Or is it pretty much absent of joy? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now think of your prayer life. Is joy something you are praying for? God’s promise is that when we ask, using the name of Jesus, we will receive abundant joy. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity</b> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think or talk about joy that exists in your life. Is it something you only experience when you are happy? Or do you experience joy during life’s trials and tribulations? Make a commitment to praying for joy and begin praying for joy today. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Prayer </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Dear God - </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Fill me with joy. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>When my life seems boring—fill me with joy. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>When my life is full of fear—fill me with joy. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>When I am sad—fill me with joy. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>When I am overwhelmed—fill me with joy. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>May my joy not depend on others, but on You. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>May my joy not depend on me, but on You. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>May I be as faithful in asking as You are in giving. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>May I accept and share Your gift of joy. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Fill me with joy. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Amen.</i></span></div>
<div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-26312738895595573422013-12-15T00:00:00.000-06:002013-12-16T11:41:29.119-06:00God's Gift of Joy<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like hope and peace: joy is a gift from God. It is different than happiness which depends on external circumstances. Happiness is good, but not permanent. Joy is better and is everlasting. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God Says </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! –John 15:10-11</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Y20k2JaX2CRRq4rP1m8uWJaa4Y_6LmAglB1fPksGprU-ypLPU7iPuwrTICgYqL9Uf4UvwE4RJ3lVu8aG7mtBGbJpc6mxGjIgrftpwkJJ-HcAf-YsMsJ9C0JubgfVEvzaB1EgaRotyIU/s1600/joy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Y20k2JaX2CRRq4rP1m8uWJaa4Y_6LmAglB1fPksGprU-ypLPU7iPuwrTICgYqL9Uf4UvwE4RJ3lVu8aG7mtBGbJpc6mxGjIgrftpwkJJ-HcAf-YsMsJ9C0JubgfVEvzaB1EgaRotyIU/s400/joy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Something to Think About </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of God’s initial gifts to humanity was the Ten Commandments. They can be seen as a list of things an austere God tells us to do or not to do. Or they can be viewed as God’s way of telling us how to put our lives together in a way that makes sense. The implication and the promise is that when we live according to God’s law—joy will overflow in our lives. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think about or talk about God how following God’s Law would increase the joy in your life. What would you need to stop doing? What might be something you need to start doing? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Prayer </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Dear God - </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Thank you for times of happiness. <br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>For laughs. For smiles. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>For family. For friends. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>For things I enjoy doing. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>For places that bless me. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Yet I search for something deeper. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>When times are tough: Your power. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>When I feel alone: Your presence. <br />When going through the motions of life: Your passion. <br />When I live in the wilderness: Your pleasure. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Let me follow You more closely. <br />May I see Your Law as a gift and embrace it. <br />Fill me with Your joy. Let Your joy overflow in my life. <br />And may others see Your joy in me. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Amen.</i></span>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-75362262796618520602013-12-14T00:00:00.000-06:002013-12-14T00:00:10.251-06:00Peace and Balance<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Balance is the combination of our relationships, physical health, work, finances, emotional health, and spiritual development. We can lose balance when one of more of these becomes unhealthy and dysfunctional. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God Says </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. –Ecclesiastes 3:1</i></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxLnt61ERPGs3-cf4qslh8GOji0UdpCH7cPQY1sFR4dYTC5XrYugDbi3dgqu-BjDC_BFIMa4coiFZAyk6y2NCUAp-LRfDwTeFZ4GXCDGM8F9gwx9bWu08eTCIS_ouiXTlDFWtFH9onmg/s1600/amazing-balancing-rocks-life-is-all-about-balance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxLnt61ERPGs3-cf4qslh8GOji0UdpCH7cPQY1sFR4dYTC5XrYugDbi3dgqu-BjDC_BFIMa4coiFZAyk6y2NCUAp-LRfDwTeFZ4GXCDGM8F9gwx9bWu08eTCIS_ouiXTlDFWtFH9onmg/s640/amazing-balancing-rocks-life-is-all-about-balance.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Something to Think About </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We can’t and shouldn’t attempt to emphasize and do and be everything at once. Ecclesiastes writes beautiful and powerful words about balance: for everything there is a season and a time. Balance creates an environment where peace can be practiced and lived out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think or talk about what areas in your life are balanced. Think or talk about areas in your life that are out of balance. Pray about ways God can bring balance to your life and help you experience peace. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Prayer </b><br /> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hectic. Rushed. Worried. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stressed. Cluttered. Burdened. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lonely. Tired. Complex. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is my life but not Your plan for my life. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By your grace, become the priority and passion of my life. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I lack – You sustain. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I am alone – You are present. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I am overwhelmed – You are my help. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I am defeated – You are my hope. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You provide my needs. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Faith. Family. Friends. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Work. Wellness. Wealth. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sleep. School. Spending. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am pulled in all directions. Pull me in Your direction. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I confess I have made choices that have caused me to lose balance. <br />Forgive me when these choices have been intentional. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I live in an imperfect world that makes balanced living difficult. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give me wisdom not to conform to the patterns of the world but to be transformed by the Gospel. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I pray for organization in the details of life. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My distractions on non-essentials are many. I pray for focus on the essential things of life. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help me give my time, energy, and resources to the important – not the urgent. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help me say “no” to mediocre or even good things so I can say “yes” to the best. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me embrace simplicity and flexibility rather than complexity and rigidness.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give me clear purposes in life. I want to love and be loved by You. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make my relationships be life-giving and joyful for me and for those I relate to.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help me love like you and extend my hand in service to those around me. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am a sinner. Lead me to experience your forgiveness and to share forgiveness with others. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am jealous and envious. Fill me with thankfulness and gratitude. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have neglected my body. Help me take care of myself through exercise, nutrition, and rest. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have let my work become my life. Allow me to see that my value comes from You. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am unbalanced. It is my life but not Your plan for my life. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am pulled in all directions. Pull me in your direction. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give me harmony and peace. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give me grace and balance. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the name of Jesus I pray, </span></div>
<div>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amen.</i></div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-70836678258692970762013-12-13T00:00:00.000-06:002013-12-13T00:00:10.823-06:00Peace and Rest<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus was aware of the demands of the world. In His humanity, He experienced physical, emotional, and even spiritual fatigue. God’s grace offers us rest. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God Says </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. -Matthew 10:28-29</i></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReS6k0M2xEbQ5LtCvGiSqws0NElTan-QQVOrBFuVf_7yH37FvVya7o_miV9XWbaszkDvwLB8YMDb5SbpIzx3HA0hlevBud7tDF13VZbnhXPpe1PJ-lICaZNfNlJT6mUq9f4oflYYoAX4/s1600/rest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReS6k0M2xEbQ5LtCvGiSqws0NElTan-QQVOrBFuVf_7yH37FvVya7o_miV9XWbaszkDvwLB8YMDb5SbpIzx3HA0hlevBud7tDF13VZbnhXPpe1PJ-lICaZNfNlJT6mUq9f4oflYYoAX4/s400/rest.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>339</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1936</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>16</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2377</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Something to Think About </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus makes an invitation to go to Him. To give Him your restlessness and heavy burdens. A promise comes with the invitation: Jesus will teach us and give us rest for our souls. We learn gentleness and humility. God’s grace will provide rest for our souls. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To give God our restlessness and heavy burdens—we must create environments where we can go to God. Think about or talk about what an environment would look like for you to encounter God and how rest would contribute to peace in your life. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Prayer </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God, </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m tired. I carry heavy burdens. My soul is restless. <br /> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m tired. <br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tired that the demands of the day exceed my abilities and energies. <br />Tired that I am over-committed and under-resourced. <br />Tired of making mistakes, hurting others, and hurting myself. <br />Tired physically and emotionally. Tired of being out of balance. <br />Tired of pretending to be somebody I am not. Tired of being distant from You. <br />Help me come to You and give me rest. Rest for my soul. <br /><br /> I carry heavy burdens. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Burdens from my past that are still hurting me today. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Burdens from today that are preventing me from pursuing dreams for tomorrow. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Burdens from tomorrow that may or may not ever materialize. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Burdens of stress. Burdens of sadness. Burdens of dejection. Burdens of desolation. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Burdens of pleasing others. Burdens of dysfunctional relationships. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help me come to You and give me rest. Rest for my soul. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My soul is restless. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Restless. I long for peace and contentment. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Restless. I am searching and not finding. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Restless. I can’t be still and experience Your presence. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Restless. I struggle with patience and find it difficult to wait for You. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Restless. I try to control the world around me instead of trusting in You. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help me come to You and give me rest. Rest for my soul. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remove all obstacles between You and me. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The obstacles I have created. The obstacles formed by my environments. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give me the wisdom that I can do more and be more with You than without You. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have tried it on my own and it didn’t work. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Teach me to love and be loved by You. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want to welcome You into my heart and all of my life. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Heal me. Make me whole. Transform me into a new creation. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I give You my fatigue, my burdens, and my restlessness. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help me come to You and give me rest. Rest for my soul. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><i> Amen.</i></span></div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-2716577866766752952013-12-12T00:00:00.000-06:002013-12-12T00:00:01.285-06:00Anxiety and Peace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>36</o:Words>
<o:Characters>208</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>1</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>255</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anxiety is feelings of unfocused worry and fear. It is often an overreaction to a situation that is neither as real or harmful as perceived. Anxiety is an obstacle to peace.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God Says</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. -1 Peter 5:7</i></span><i>
</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GFwVPGIynQK1sclNO394NpuIvH9-I5bBBShC_lh1J2egRm6A7rG8qpXzSpw1Ml1na7JFOQE3CXeC2kOBPVPiMkYdycHd_tPLpqBPBw3TBIl6jX6AM3eUV_tYXUc5_XG0_J_4s7EWjJM/s1600/bigstock-Anxiety-33085817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GFwVPGIynQK1sclNO394NpuIvH9-I5bBBShC_lh1J2egRm6A7rG8qpXzSpw1Ml1na7JFOQE3CXeC2kOBPVPiMkYdycHd_tPLpqBPBw3TBIl6jX6AM3eUV_tYXUc5_XG0_J_4s7EWjJM/s400/bigstock-Anxiety-33085817.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>131</o:Words>
<o:Characters>748</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>6</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>918</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Something to Think About</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength. Peace is an opposite of anxiety. It is God’s gift of having confidence in our future. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think about some things that make you anxious. Which of these fears are real? Which probably are not real? Which of these can you do anything about? Which one can you do nothing about? Explore how less anxiety would restore peace to your life.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Prayer</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anxiety. The world gives and I receive.<br />Anxiety is part of my life. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I worry how others perceive me. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I worry about my future.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I worry about life.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I worry about death.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I pray tomorrow’s clouds don’t cover today’s sunshine.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I pray for faith to understand and experience that You are bigger than my fears.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help me obey your command not to be afraid. Help me trust in You.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bless me with peace.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Amen.</i></span></div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-78168480850894534682013-12-11T00:00:00.000-06:002013-12-11T00:00:13.173-06:00Humility and Peace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>65</o:Words>
<o:Characters>376</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>3</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>461</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Bible talks a lot about humility. Jesus demonstrated humility daily. Humility is knowing who you are and who you are not and being good with that. Humility is knowing who God is and being great with that. It is thinking of yourself pretty much the same way you think of everybody else. Humility opens the door to grace and peace.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God Says</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” –James 4:6</i></span><!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHxYigit12eWKu0wqI4FlDYCDrVcbflwM0eZ1kH7bpzwllHntx0XYw2cokcsh0mMxmLZMbZv34vZz-B-SlMCZTxaS5g3s_bWyWWhFKZHvAQThZoJ3S9KaaUHii4xpNRVQACp5mrpqycM/s1600/humility1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHxYigit12eWKu0wqI4FlDYCDrVcbflwM0eZ1kH7bpzwllHntx0XYw2cokcsh0mMxmLZMbZv34vZz-B-SlMCZTxaS5g3s_bWyWWhFKZHvAQThZoJ3S9KaaUHii4xpNRVQACp5mrpqycM/s400/humility1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>94</o:Words>
<o:Characters>539</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>4</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>661</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Something to Think About</b></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Humility is to trust and depend on God. It is the deep waters of peace when the world above us is full of trouble. Humility is a foundation for peace. Constant competition to be the best and jealously of others is a guarantee for a life absent of peace. James writes about the self-destructive nature of pride. Pride is the love of self before love of God and love of others. Pride doesn’t need grace because it already has itself.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think about or talk about somebody you consider humble. What do you admire about them? Think about or talk about what some of your next steps to humility will be.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1m9ux-uxWe-O_Ot9J2ySJS2mnIU94D6V8HkuXcMc7wlOI4GBHYhZ4Yb2AMlim2Sad2drt0kNULRJoM50wetIpQhiUE3TnxBZzU8GIOp-ytgpEgrDCpc8YWt358dhifGPs-tvghg5dqY/s1600/Humility.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1m9ux-uxWe-O_Ot9J2ySJS2mnIU94D6V8HkuXcMc7wlOI4GBHYhZ4Yb2AMlim2Sad2drt0kNULRJoM50wetIpQhiUE3TnxBZzU8GIOp-ytgpEgrDCpc8YWt358dhifGPs-tvghg5dqY/s400/Humility.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>79</o:Words>
<o:Characters>455</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>3</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>558</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Prayer</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bless me with humility.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A humility that recognizes my unawareness and ignorance.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A humility that knows my weaknesses and needs.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A humility that admits my failures and mistakes.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A humility that welcomes constructive criticism and feedback. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let my words and actions reflect Your humility.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May I encourage and not hurt.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May I build-up and not tear down. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May I compliment and not condemn.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May I think of others at their best and not their worst.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bless me with humility and open the doors of Your grace.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Amen.</i></span></div>
</div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-48588218652152105222013-12-10T00:00:00.000-06:002013-12-10T08:58:27.259-06:00Distraction and Peace<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We live in a world full of distractions. Cable television, the Internet, social media, smart phones, demanding jobs, crowded schedules, email, etc…can keep us distracted and unfocused. Distractions are an obstacle to oneness with God, oneness with others, and experiencing peace.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God Says</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Lord answered, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things. One thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part. It won’t be taken away from her.” –Mark 10:41-42</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_OFVALNvG-aXrJKZbco6qo3N7w8YVLm2Fp5mspPpk-fScjeY7qOlZ2Sa0crAaGpXMinXwdEp-tIgy8lX574jsL-FWM04Ak2MxbjrgnSdaKdA2UaQbnjQ5APQ_TxxIimXec8EQEYYwcg/s1600/distraction-quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_OFVALNvG-aXrJKZbco6qo3N7w8YVLm2Fp5mspPpk-fScjeY7qOlZ2Sa0crAaGpXMinXwdEp-tIgy8lX574jsL-FWM04Ak2MxbjrgnSdaKdA2UaQbnjQ5APQ_TxxIimXec8EQEYYwcg/s400/distraction-quote.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>101</o:Words>
<o:Characters>577</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>4</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>708</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Something to Think About </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus was visiting Mary and Martha. He was on His way to die and wanted to spend time with them. Martha was distracted by many things. She wasn’t able to focus on Jesus because she was too busy preparing a meal and cleaning the house. Nothing wrong with a nice meal and a clean house, but she also missed an opportunity to sit at the feet of God because she was distracted. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Think about or talk about: what are you missing out on because you are distracted? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Plan an evening or a day free from distractions. Unplug from the world and plug into God’s grace. Journal or talk about what the experience was like to be free of distractions.</span>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQs8lbM0-E-wgfxr-Zy905BEtk8Y5HrYuEuysVcDwTearVnkc9brSXzKVJIR6n3gaj1SvK9eivNqlzKryg_5xOvghLDFLXQEQdJImragp188Za9kguUL4eRgrldRy2tojBZpsb_2h_Jp0/s1600/ways-to-eliminate-distractions.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQs8lbM0-E-wgfxr-Zy905BEtk8Y5HrYuEuysVcDwTearVnkc9brSXzKVJIR6n3gaj1SvK9eivNqlzKryg_5xOvghLDFLXQEQdJImragp188Za9kguUL4eRgrldRy2tojBZpsb_2h_Jp0/s400/ways-to-eliminate-distractions.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>101</o:Words>
<o:Characters>577</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>4</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>708</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>76</o:Words>
<o:Characters>436</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>3</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>535</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Individual or Family Prayer<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I live in a world
full of distractions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Things that waste
my time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Harmless
activities that may not be so harmless. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I confess times I
have been too connected to the world and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> disconnected
from You.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been
preoccupied with work or information or leisure and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> disconnected
from others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bless me with
discipline so I am not wasting my time or my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Teach me to value
community with others over entertainment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give me many
undistracted and undisrupted moments with You. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amen.</span></span></i><!--EndFragment-->
<br />
</div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-4640663602408578322013-12-09T12:00:00.000-06:002013-12-09T12:00:21.994-06:00Prayer and Peace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>72</o:Words>
<o:Characters>411</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>3</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>504</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Peace is elusive. If it weren’t elusive, everybody would have it. Worry is prevalent and an obstacle to peace. Prayer makes peace possible. We begin our journey to more peace this week with prayer. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God Says </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:6-7</i></span></div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJagcJoroLAD32Z0hC2hGe7gGGfTFfk3Hqo29xf6LlD_KLRBzN0mXo6KU3UZbvXzC-goE1VniYauu7liR4j6FMrExoz8NgsmNedxPgxNZ3Lofw-1gONt9lMf6Nk6Vn_JOubrR8jOxyEYs/s1600/wpid-0505_PRAYER_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJagcJoroLAD32Z0hC2hGe7gGGfTFfk3Hqo29xf6LlD_KLRBzN0mXo6KU3UZbvXzC-goE1VniYauu7liR4j6FMrExoz8NgsmNedxPgxNZ3Lofw-1gONt9lMf6Nk6Vn_JOubrR8jOxyEYs/s640/wpid-0505_PRAYER_photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Something to Think About </b></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Paul says not to worry. He is on to something, of course. Think how much time you have wasted worrying about things that have never happened or worrying about things you can do nothing about. Prayer changes that. When we pray the promise is that we will experience God’s peace and that this peace will guard our hearts and our minds. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Spend time telling God what you need. (verse 6) <br />2. Spend time thanking God for what God has done. (verse 6) <br />3. Ask: How could God’s peace change your life or your lives together? <br /> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Prayer </b><br /> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God, <br /><br /> Calm the giant waves of my heart. <br />Calm this storm inside me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Still my soul so I may find rest in You. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Still my soul so I may experience Your peace. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give me a peace that surpasses what I can ever understand. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give me a peace the world can never take away. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Amen.</i></span><br />
<!--EndFragment--></div>
</div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-72430012282977311852013-12-08T00:00:00.000-06:002013-12-08T00:00:01.268-06:00God's Gift of Peace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>32</o:Words>
<o:Characters>187</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>1</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>229</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Peace is a gift.
During the next week we will discover the potential and possibilities of peace.
We will look at obstacles to peace and discover how to begin experiencing more
of God’s peace in our lives.</span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yuGiRABVAEh8Rb2-DpRIY7Jup2vzptUPAJhcT7vH6ZJzlCNHtNTCGXr4aPZ6Gili5eiC2NH0HE0avgz5rOdEKxZCXOJkZhwsWFUl1F0XL_sHY5qqkoh97fPCsvlq19WGsxHFl59lyJQ/s1600/peace-in-sand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yuGiRABVAEh8Rb2-DpRIY7Jup2vzptUPAJhcT7vH6ZJzlCNHtNTCGXr4aPZ6Gili5eiC2NH0HE0avgz5rOdEKxZCXOJkZhwsWFUl1F0XL_sHY5qqkoh97fPCsvlq19WGsxHFl59lyJQ/s640/peace-in-sand.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>97</o:Words>
<o:Characters>554</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>4</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>680</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God Says<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have told you all this so that you may
have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take
heart, because I have overcome the world. –John 16:33<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Something to Think About<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus never
claims the world is going to be easy. He even says it is going to be difficult at
times. He then declares he has overcome the world and because He has overcome
the world we can overcome the world too. One of the first steps we take is
accepting God’s peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Individual or Family Activity<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Identify some
areas that are making peace difficult in your lives. Write them on a sheet of
paper. Make a commitment to dealing with these issues this week.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WiFbREBvvGeGkuIo94-MXAQQKBzwoOyDGZMYF6JhJQFF1voWL4KdNZPn3GNXi_XCTcB48xng14Wa2VE0loKmJBSjQP_s865aw5Qyg2UV1lTdC2ag56HB_dvDVEyruN0g7ucEhCHQGQo/s1600/peace+with+God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WiFbREBvvGeGkuIo94-MXAQQKBzwoOyDGZMYF6JhJQFF1voWL4KdNZPn3GNXi_XCTcB48xng14Wa2VE0loKmJBSjQP_s865aw5Qyg2UV1lTdC2ag56HB_dvDVEyruN0g7ucEhCHQGQo/s640/peace+with+God.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>193</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1101</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>9</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1352</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Individual or Family Prayer<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God -<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In places like
Somalia and Sudan – Connecticut and Korea<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bullets fly -
Children die - Parents cry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give us Your peace<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Broken hearts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lives too short<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fear of life and
fear of death<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give us Your peace<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tears fall down
our cheeks like rain from the sky<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Knots in our
stomach and sleepless nights<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Worries about
tomorrow compete for space in our mind with regrets from the past<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give us Your peace<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Restlessness,
impatience, annoyances, intolerance, frustration, and anger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They fill our
lives like melted snow floods a fragile river<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give us Your peace<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prince of Peace –
Take our burdens and give us rest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wonderful
Counselor – Show us the way to peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through the
deepest valleys<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the darkest
places<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During the times
we are completely alone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Show us the way to peace<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Peace with You<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Peace with others<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Peace with the
world<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And peace with
ourselves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give us Your peace<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dysfunction,
dismay, and despair – They exist in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But you have
overcome the world <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help us to be
overcomers who embrace Your peace<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We give you our
fears<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We offer you our
failures <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our hearts are no
longer troubled because of Your peace<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are God and Your
peace surpasses all understanding<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Guard our hearts
and our minds <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Teach us Your
presence is greater than our struggles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give us Your peace<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br clear="ALL" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span><!--EndFragment-->Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-61822439093428116022013-12-07T00:00:00.000-06:002013-12-07T00:00:02.999-06:00Experiencing Rest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Created>2013-07-17T19:53:00Z</o:Created>
<o:LastSaved>2013-07-17T19:53:00Z</o:LastSaved>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>59</o:Words>
<o:Characters>341</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>2</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>418</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">December is a
busy month. Parties, shopping, Christmas cards, kids’ activities, travel, and
everyday normal stuff. God didn’t come to the world so that we would be busy,
distracted, and tried. God came to the world so that we could be focused and
rested.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God Says<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath
was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements
of the Sabbath. –Mark 2:27</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcILnbAlZHsryhn2N4iSOoVYiie0EACBkDztUOYf-4jX9DXqoQsoXSp9mcQbg9qqgmm57TtyKIx2LEeZPkz3s6uur2_U_M5B20LWbnEuOAoMdyGiRGF1R9yG0nnHNJjt-WlmxriAL9bc/s1600/life-reflection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcILnbAlZHsryhn2N4iSOoVYiie0EACBkDztUOYf-4jX9DXqoQsoXSp9mcQbg9qqgmm57TtyKIx2LEeZPkz3s6uur2_U_M5B20LWbnEuOAoMdyGiRGF1R9yG0nnHNJjt-WlmxriAL9bc/s640/life-reflection.jpg" width="486" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Created>2013-07-17T19:53:00Z</o:Created>
<o:LastSaved>2013-07-17T19:53:00Z</o:LastSaved>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>212</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1210</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>10</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1485</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Something to Think About<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God created the
world in six days and rested on the seventh day. Humans are created in God’s
image and are in a continuing process of being restored into God’s image.
Sabbath is part of what restores humans to God’s image. Sabbath is the refusal
to let one’s life be defined by consumption and production. It is making space
for God and others and self. Learning that you don’t have to do to be. And
accepting the grace of doing nothing. It is taking some time each day, each week,
and each year to trust that we can do more with God than we can without God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Individual or Family
Activity<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spend focused
time with God and / or loved ones. Be intentional. Eliminate your access to distractions.
Disconnect from the world and connect to God and / or loved ones. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Individual or Family Prayer</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let this day be
comprised of moments that <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sustain
rather than stress<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fill-up
rather than empty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Restore
rather than weaken<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Set me free from
habits that disconnect me from You and others<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Too
much attention to unimportant things<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A
calendar that is too full<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Constant
distractions</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me come to
You and embrace Your rest for my soul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For
things that waste my time let me release<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For
a life that is too busy let me cease<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For
time filled with interruptions and diversions give me peace<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my life of
stress let me experience your lifeline of grace<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Replenish
my body and my relationships<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Renew
my mind and my attitude<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Restore
my soul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Amen.</i></span></span><!--EndFragment-->
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-11910821326290122902013-12-06T00:00:00.000-06:002013-12-06T00:00:09.244-06:00Looking Like God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Created>2013-07-17T19:53:00Z</o:Created>
<o:LastSaved>2013-07-17T19:53:00Z</o:LastSaved>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>48</o:Words>
<o:Characters>278</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>2</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>341</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People most look like God when we serve, when we give, and when we forgive. Yesterday we experienced God’s forgiveness. Today we give it to others.</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God Says<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instead, be kind to each other,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven
you. –Ephesians 4:32</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJUtG1UWi37veKFRYVGKXOpSmMcqjA2wdyvr7o_X7jiAGVeKcVUp2FyPcmwipMgsejSktGgRiPuVvGK6BkXm9J_ToFyPwz_SJbD5JMsl_twJilgadFblLtDDULvDgWt1wA7sPM1I8dpE/s1600/woman-caught-in-adultery1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJUtG1UWi37veKFRYVGKXOpSmMcqjA2wdyvr7o_X7jiAGVeKcVUp2FyPcmwipMgsejSktGgRiPuVvGK6BkXm9J_ToFyPwz_SJbD5JMsl_twJilgadFblLtDDULvDgWt1wA7sPM1I8dpE/s400/woman-caught-in-adultery1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Created>2013-07-17T19:53:00Z</o:Created>
<o:LastSaved>2013-07-17T19:53:00Z</o:LastSaved>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>229</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1306</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>10</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1603</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Something to Think About<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Paul urges the
Ephesian Christians to be forgiving. Paul understands forgiveness. He
experienced it. His past was anything but perfect, but God’s grace was greater
than his sin (Romans 5:20). He experienced the power of forgiving others.
Forgiveness is not primarily for the offending party, but ultimately a gift to
the offended. Ropes of resentment are released and bonds of bitterness are
broken. It is the offer of a gift to another and we are the primary
beneficiaries. And, when the forgiven becomes forgiving, humans move a step
closer to being restored into God’s image which itself is quite a splendid
gift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Individual or Family
Activity<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Individual –
Think of a person you need to forgive. Dream about how God might bless you if
you were able to practice forgiveness. Spend a moment and pray about what the
next step of forgiveness might look like for you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Family – Talk
about forgiveness. What are some of the benefits? What are some of the
challenges? How would forgiving others and / or forgiving each other help your
family?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Individual or Family Prayer</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You have come to
the world so that I may have abundant life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You have died so
that I may experience the forgiveness of sins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your sacrifice is
absolute and complete.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grant me the
wisdom to forgive others as You have forgiven me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remove my
feelings of bitterness and resentment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help me close
some chapters of life so that I can write new ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May I reflect
Your love to others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May I forgive as
I have been forgiven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May I look more
and more like You everyday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Amen.</i></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br clear="ALL" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span></b><!--EndFragment-->Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-80885211279218390442013-12-05T08:42:00.000-06:002013-12-05T08:42:00.562-06:00The Unopened Present<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Imagine the presents remaining under the tree, unopened, the day after Christmas. The tree is eventually taken down. The unopened boxes and bags are moved to the corner of the family room—visible, but unopened. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God Says </span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” –Matthew 26:27-28</span></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAM_w0Ev_hlvil6e3SSgVe0DTWs9N_I5sYB6mRjF4qNT4I1BL9_fbkdeG3f7mYu2_Kh2zxxddZnqtkvppLaX58LuVPRS9n5apif7i-xaftgNJ0HYpp8Hr11TOah6BT3VAyjYQ6jUzOZ4/s1600/Unopened.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAM_w0Ev_hlvil6e3SSgVe0DTWs9N_I5sYB6mRjF4qNT4I1BL9_fbkdeG3f7mYu2_Kh2zxxddZnqtkvppLaX58LuVPRS9n5apif7i-xaftgNJ0HYpp8Hr11TOah6BT3VAyjYQ6jUzOZ4/s640/Unopened.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Created>2013-07-17T19:53:00Z</o:Created>
<o:LastSaved>2013-07-17T19:53:00Z</o:LastSaved>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>276</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1575</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>13</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1934</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Something to Think About </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God offers forgiveness. Nothing we have done is too bad that we ever find ourselves beyond the reach of God’s love and grace. God is willing to forgive—the challenge is accepting God’s forgiveness. Christ came to save the world from our sin. Forgiveness is God’s Christmas gift to us. But for many, the box remains unopened: under the tree, tucked away in the corner of the room, or stuffed in the closet. Still available and most likely visible—but unopened.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Write some of your sins on a sheet of paper. Read the sins and then destroy the paper. Shred it. Burn it. Tear it apart. On a new sheet of paper write down some of your hopes and dreams. Keep that sheet of paper and refer back to it.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Prayer </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God, </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My trespasses are many. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People I have hurt. <br />Opportunities I have missed. <br />Shortcuts I have taken. <br />Times I have distanced myself from You. <br /><br /> My sins continue. <br />Mornings of jealousy and nights of envy. <br />Craving and consuming people, places, and things. <br />Poor responses to anger and annoyances. <br />Avoidance of doing Your work. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I fall short of who I want to be. <br />My thoughts are impure. <br />My words can be harsh and careless. <br />My deeds are not always loving and life giving. <br />I have habits that damage me and others. <br /> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yet You forgive. <br />You delight in giving mercy. <br />You rescue me from the dominion of darkness. <br />I turn to You and You refresh me. <br />You make me a new creation and let me begin again. <br /><br /> And You keep forgiving. <br />You purify me and make me as white as snow. <br />You cast my sins to the depths of the sea. <br />You remove my transgressions as far as the east is from the west. <br />You remember my failures no more. <br /><br /> Let me open and keep opening this gift of forgiveness. <br />Help me respond to Your grace. <br />Enable me to experience Your freedom. <br />Make it possible for me to forgive myself. <br />Draw me closer to You so that I am free from sin. <br /><br /> <i>Amen.</i></span>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-51677779129036047212013-12-04T00:00:00.000-06:002013-12-04T00:00:08.316-06:00Re-Gifting<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Re-gifting is not usually a good practice. We give to another what somebody else has given to us usually because we don’t want the gift we receive. Unlike a shirt or a pan or a fruitcake, God’s gift of Jesus is unlimited. We can give Jesus away and not have any less of Jesus ourselves. In fact, we’ll probably have more of Jesus ourselves.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLAUBP0LClrHYQMljopQXSI-WlhP-cblQR4LmHnaRkAJkALkoGfzgoHp1cs4muPu17KVjoO6fTLsVTRlhe48WXI4wP2vhanQCb1yRhpterLwS_8aiv8hQMgSe1jYXusXSiXR-2nO-0vI/s1600/Regifting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLAUBP0LClrHYQMljopQXSI-WlhP-cblQR4LmHnaRkAJkALkoGfzgoHp1cs4muPu17KVjoO6fTLsVTRlhe48WXI4wP2vhanQCb1yRhpterLwS_8aiv8hQMgSe1jYXusXSiXR-2nO-0vI/s400/Regifting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Created>2013-07-17T19:53:00Z</o:Created>
<o:LastSaved>2013-07-17T19:53:00Z</o:LastSaved>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>91</o:Words>
<o:Characters>522</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>4</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>641</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God Says </b></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. –Acts 8:34-35 </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Something to Think About </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Phillip had earned credibility and goodwill with the Ethiopian Eunuch. The Eunuch was now asking Phillip questions. He trusted Phillip. At the right time, Phillip invited the Eunuch to follow Jesus. The Bible is full of invitations. Specifically, God’s invitation to humanity to accept His love, power, and grace. Jesus was prolific at inviting. He said things like: “Come and follow me” and “Go and tell”. </span>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqQuQfTZlaG3IbPcdU7_-RnyVsrr7ixO06fOCT4bJrWguTS3X5pcEhl2PcC32ulflvurOGXuzGEllYACDidvH0C3xrgoqZMb58_MWqfesVu6afvZMoi834UvzhgI8dmg2eDpTGd4taGQ/s1600/5236157480_regift2_answer_101_xlarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqQuQfTZlaG3IbPcdU7_-RnyVsrr7ixO06fOCT4bJrWguTS3X5pcEhl2PcC32ulflvurOGXuzGEllYACDidvH0C3xrgoqZMb58_MWqfesVu6afvZMoi834UvzhgI8dmg2eDpTGd4taGQ/s400/5236157480_regift2_answer_101_xlarge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Created>2013-07-17T19:53:00Z</o:Created>
<o:LastSaved>2013-07-17T19:53:00Z</o:LastSaved>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>177</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1011</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>8</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1241</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity</b> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make a list of people you are going to invite to worship at The Water’s Edge during one of our Christmas Eve worship experiences or to come to the Children’s Christmas Musical. Pray about ways you can invite them to experience God’s love through Christ this Christmas. Make a plan to start making the invitations. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Prayer</b> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God, </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your grace has drawn me in. <br />You have put people in my path who have invested in me. <br />You have called people to invite me to know and experience You. <br />You have included me in Your Kingdom. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me experience Your Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also want to be a vessel of Your grace. <br />Help me as I invest my life in others. <br />Bless me with the patience and compassion to actively listen. <br />May I be a person who has earned the goodwill to be respected and heard by others. <br />Give me the pure motives of empathy and love. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help me make the right invitations at the right time to the right people. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May my invitations be signals of Your unlimited grace. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Equip me to lead others into Your family and Your Kingdom. <br />As You have included me—give me the heart to be inclusive of others. <br />Prepare me and inspire me to give Your grace to others. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Amen.</i></span>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-18134232879004501032013-12-03T00:00:00.000-06:002013-12-03T00:00:05.458-06:00Sharing God's Hope<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the last two days we have experienced that God is the source of hope and God’s hope can overflow in our lives. Today we look at sharing God’s hope with others. <br /><br /> <b>God Says </b></span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The hope of the righteous brings joy. –Proverbs 10:28</span></i><br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtRid_GeEWHdpk-Ljmoq_fbXPnBMXBVHQTCEKQ-Lr4HTECDiv02iPmuLuGpv9tEICr-uHKJOIauSJLbdrF_R7ROqzmFPtxttiZklO4CND-qKEctBcAYC8X5Sw41mb5lnLLvaJHArV9hc/s1600/sharingHOPE_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtRid_GeEWHdpk-Ljmoq_fbXPnBMXBVHQTCEKQ-Lr4HTECDiv02iPmuLuGpv9tEICr-uHKJOIauSJLbdrF_R7ROqzmFPtxttiZklO4CND-qKEctBcAYC8X5Sw41mb5lnLLvaJHArV9hc/s640/sharingHOPE_web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Created>2013-07-17T19:53:00Z</o:Created>
<o:LastSaved>2013-07-17T19:53:00Z</o:LastSaved>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>154</o:Words>
<o:Characters>879</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>7</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1079</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Something to Think About </span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God has used people to give hope to others throughout history. David’s Psalms gave hope to a nation. Ruth’s comforting words to Naomi gave Naomi hope. Paul’s letters gave hope to early Christians. Jesus gave hope to the sick, the hurting, and to sinners. God’s hope that lives in you will bring joy to others. You can follow in the rich tradition of God-followers by offering hope to the world. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity</b> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think of a person. Maybe somebody you love. Maybe somebody you know is going through a difficult situation. Intentionally and specifically encourage them. Have a conversation. Write them a letter. Offer them the same hope that God offers you. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Individual or Family Prayer </span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God, </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You give me hope. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You give me hope that overflows. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I have received—teach and inspire me to give. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help me share Your hope with Your world. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Place people in my way I can encourage. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me be mindful of people in my life I can support. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are the hope of the world! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May others see and experience Your hope in my life! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amen.</span></i>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
</div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-9726581232026857412013-12-02T00:00:00.000-06:002013-12-02T00:00:10.996-06:00God's Overflowing Hope<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We live in an imperfect world. Your life will not be an exception to the world’s brokenness. A primary aim of life is not avoiding the inevitable, but dealing with despair and discouragement in helpful, healthy, and hopeful ways. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God Says</b> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. –Romans 15:13</i></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpE4DXXT1KW9MK15RHkBVxFVdtX8IFRHojGBLcXlUkzGhiQFRMdIKy3J_U0ZV_8Q2-KF48OsJ_hHmj1FeUZsRAicDgYy5A6wTiMcmK7GUsO4okIl6dFpuJ76CNyBCQVG1Xfsl_UgtVaA/s1600/FallPRSP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpE4DXXT1KW9MK15RHkBVxFVdtX8IFRHojGBLcXlUkzGhiQFRMdIKy3J_U0ZV_8Q2-KF48OsJ_hHmj1FeUZsRAicDgYy5A6wTiMcmK7GUsO4okIl6dFpuJ76CNyBCQVG1Xfsl_UgtVaA/s640/FallPRSP.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Something to Think About </b></div>
<br /> Trusting in God will fill us with joy and peace. Trusting in God also overflows us with hope. We live in a world that can be very tough. Disease, dysfunction, despair, and death are all real. But God heals and God saves. Having hope is one of the most significant attributes of life. It provides people with a vision, energy, and courage to take the next step. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Individual or Family Activity </b></div>
<br /> Take an empty glass. Imagine this as a life empty of hope. Slowly fill the glass with water until it overflows. Pray about God doing this in your life. Ask God what are some specific next steps you can take over the next twenty-five days so that some of your hopes can begin to be filled and eventually overflowing.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Individual or Family Prayer</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Dear God, </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I come before you in need of hope. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I come in need of more hope. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel helpless at times. <br />Sometimes I am afraid. Sometimes I am weak. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give me hope. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give me more hope. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I need hope for a better life. <br />I need hope for a better future. <br />I need hope for kindness, compassion, and love. <br /><br /> I observe the sky is darkest just before the new day breaks. <br />I pray this is true for me as it seems pretty dark right now. <br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bless me with Your light which is my hope. <br />In every way. <br />In all ways. <br /><br /> Teach me that You are bigger than my problems. <br />Remind me that You have overcome the world. <br />Help me to walk in Your light and live my life trusting and hoping in You. <br /><br /> <i>Amen.</i></span></div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-41696864379222683382013-12-01T05:30:00.000-06:002013-12-01T05:30:00.952-06:00God's Gift of Hope<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The world may present evidence to the contrary that hope is nothing more than a dream or a fantasy. But without hope, things like anguish and dejection become overwhelming and permanent. Jesus is the hope of the world. Christ walked here and walks here still. He still heals and he still saves us from the world, from others, and from ourselves.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwazOAcIiC9DOwX5JIc968wD-WmXPeKaW8FHS0V5luHIpgxzPyToORFq_vcEDlMyTZusERBXyLAfV9Zi2hNBi6ZjSy0UMOUb86AkKNunUVJ6QOcYvrHU-ZOC-KS-k9wQzkF02KhM-K2M/s1600/Hope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwazOAcIiC9DOwX5JIc968wD-WmXPeKaW8FHS0V5luHIpgxzPyToORFq_vcEDlMyTZusERBXyLAfV9Zi2hNBi6ZjSy0UMOUb86AkKNunUVJ6QOcYvrHU-ZOC-KS-k9wQzkF02KhM-K2M/s640/Hope.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Created>2013-07-17T19:53:00Z</o:Created>
<o:LastSaved>2013-07-17T19:53:00Z</o:LastSaved>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>223</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1274</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>10</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1564</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God Says </b></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. –Psalm 39:7</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Something to Think About </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where do you put your hope? Do you put it in perceived security? In your own energy and resources? In other people? None of these are bad. But, eventually we all will fail. And, ultimately we all will fail. God is our true and ultimate source of hope. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I place no hope in my strength, nor in my works: but all my confidence is in God my protector, who never abandons those who have put all their hope and thought in Him. -Francois Rabelais </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Write a short letter to God. Thank God for being your hope. Share with God some of your hopes. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Prayer – A Prayer for Hope</b> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /> Dear God, </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Faith is waiting and waiting is faith. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wait impatiently and I wait patiently. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like a pregnant woman waiting for new birth </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like a captive waiting for freedom </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope and my hope is in you </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have faith my present struggles are not permanent </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have faith your vision for my tomorrow is better than my present reality </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have faith my struggles today will make me stronger tomorrow </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like a person lost at night unable to see a faint flicker of light <br />I keep stumbling through the night because I believe <br />Somewhere and sometime the morning will come </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Help me be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. <br />Help me trust in You that I will find new strength <br />I will soar high like an eagle <br />I will run and not grow weary. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me know you are with me as I faithfully wait with hope. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Amen.</i></span>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-22335752693410559542013-11-30T00:00:00.000-06:002013-11-30T00:00:02.964-06:00Not Under the Tree<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are looking for the spirit of Christmas you will not find it under a tree, but in a Person who transforms the hearts of men, women, and children. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEMRdgFc5_Oosoi4QxChwEMgsv291LK_fodJrV0aHXlDr1hyphenhypheng8yR9OTKlkfxNtWdKXfbppjgoPUaDakggVKOpC2QEPyzXzKybgfEyJKKYbutGoPQ3Kz0UdjuCO2_FRHNR8p42pIi8Zb4/s1600/John-1-14-640x420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEMRdgFc5_Oosoi4QxChwEMgsv291LK_fodJrV0aHXlDr1hyphenhypheng8yR9OTKlkfxNtWdKXfbppjgoPUaDakggVKOpC2QEPyzXzKybgfEyJKKYbutGoPQ3Kz0UdjuCO2_FRHNR8p42pIi8Zb4/s400/John-1-14-640x420.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>95</o:Words>
<o:Characters>543</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>4</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>666</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God Says </b></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. -John 1:14</i> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Something to Think About </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christmas is about a person, Jesus Christ, and people. God offers the gift of a relationship with Him through the person of Jesus Christ. This one relationship can change your world and the world. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ask yourself the simple question: What would your life look like if I (we) spend the next 25 days intentionally growing in your (our) relationship(s) with God?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Commit to participating daily in WE Christmas.</span>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80I5CUyafd1sC-bn_rGPIvDlubri40NwclpHYYFDnhf1jFRVFpYvPFUKTLDapgwacyEx0VF8abFt-SB2imLf4Oa3iPzFGFKK2wg2ip36_QP9BIU0oo613WzfJ-yjfqWgjQS2hJnvR710/s1600/word-became-flesh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80I5CUyafd1sC-bn_rGPIvDlubri40NwclpHYYFDnhf1jFRVFpYvPFUKTLDapgwacyEx0VF8abFt-SB2imLf4Oa3iPzFGFKK2wg2ip36_QP9BIU0oo613WzfJ-yjfqWgjQS2hJnvR710/s640/word-became-flesh.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>99</o:Words>
<o:Characters>566</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>4</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>695</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Prayer</b> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God, </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During these seasons of Advent and Christmas, I want to grow closer to you.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You offer me the gift of Yourself through Jesus Christ. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Help me accept this gift. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Help me keep accepting this gift. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During this season of busyness – let me listen to and respond to Your voice.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During this season of commercialism – let me embrace Your simplicity. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During this season of distractions – let me focus on You. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Christmas morning – with all the chaos and clutter – </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My prayer is that I have experienced and am experiencing </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your hope </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your peace </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your love </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your joy and </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your grace </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Amen. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-64706534386493948752013-11-29T00:00:00.000-06:002013-11-29T00:00:05.658-06:00Spend Less. Give More.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today is the busiest shopping day of the year. Giving is part of the Christmas tradition. The three travelers brought gifts to the baby Jesus. God is generous and we are created in God’s image. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCxj2FRwatz9Vgv8Vdy2tm0PENj0WWPrHVnIVyxKeEq0HRrYoNDxeFCjfNlwC6wul39RrhSDwdzSGlkn9DtZ_-1XkUiyJulQhoNhwS0PqwpCppjstxg_C2R1bbbbMthe7kRSK2eXWZLw/s1600/spendlessgivemore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMCxj2FRwatz9Vgv8Vdy2tm0PENj0WWPrHVnIVyxKeEq0HRrYoNDxeFCjfNlwC6wul39RrhSDwdzSGlkn9DtZ_-1XkUiyJulQhoNhwS0PqwpCppjstxg_C2R1bbbbMthe7kRSK2eXWZLw/s400/spendlessgivemore.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>266</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1519</o:Characters>
<o:Company>The Water's Edge</o:Company>
<o:Lines>12</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1865</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God Says </b></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. –Acts 3:6</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Something to Think About </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Peter gave what he had and that was more than enough. The quality of a gift has little to do with the cost of the gift. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving. –Mother Theresa </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spending more on a loved one doesn’t make the gift better. It makes it more expensive. Some of the best gifts can cost a lot. Some of the best gifts can cost nothing at all. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each of us has a primary <a href="http://www.5lovelanguages.com/" target="_blank">love language</a>: </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Physical Touch </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Quality Time </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Gifts </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Words of Affirmation </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. Acts of Service </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Four of these five love languages cost nothing at all except a little effort. It is possible to spend less and give more! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spend some time indentifying your primary love language or the primary love languages of each other. Share what you learned about each other and how this will change the way you give. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Practice Giving </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give a hug or hold somebody’s hand. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spend some quality time (put your phone away…the world will be fine without you for a few hours) with somebody. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be generous by using encouraging words. Be really intentional about this one.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Surprise somebody with an act of service. </span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Practice giving more and spending less during the seasons of Advent and Christmas. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Prayer </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God, </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are generous. Thank You for giving so much to me. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me be more generous and reflect Your generosity to others. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Teach me the lesson: I don’t have to spend to give. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus touched the leper <br /> Help me hug the hurting and embrace my loved ones </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jesus spent time listening to and investing in others <br /> Help me spend undistracted quality time with my friends and family <br />Jesus offered words of grace to all <br /> Let my words be intentional and build others up <br />Jesus was a faithful servant <br /> Let me selflessly and genuinely serve Your children <br /><br /> <i>Amen.</i></span>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493161343891939820.post-18708514331024428652013-11-28T00:00:00.001-06:002013-11-28T00:00:07.106-06:00Happy Thanksgiving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Happy Thanksgiving and welcome to WE Christmas! The next thirty-four days are designed to help you grow in your relationship with God and with others.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtR8qCzPFD66tpE1ggRZtOFGx8UkyrNL2qQb8G6EUCb6D8e8F9AicHz4lCCXbBckjm4hRDppUa6m_Zurxp40fBlNo3Ey0SYM5ifOry5diqqNzCrI6vfWvs-_FUkpMfiwujjSY31wZXkNo/s1600/Happy+Thanksgiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtR8qCzPFD66tpE1ggRZtOFGx8UkyrNL2qQb8G6EUCb6D8e8F9AicHz4lCCXbBckjm4hRDppUa6m_Zurxp40fBlNo3Ey0SYM5ifOry5diqqNzCrI6vfWvs-_FUkpMfiwujjSY31wZXkNo/s400/Happy+Thanksgiving.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God Says </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. –Ephesians 5:20 </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Something to Think About </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don’t spoil what you have by spending so much time and energy desiring what you don’t have. Thanksgiving is God’s plan for our lives. It closes doors of jealousy, resentment, greed, and discontentment. It opens doors of grace, joy, peace, generosity, and love. Thanksgiving is a lifestyle and not a single act. It is the way we think, speak, and act. It is also the single best way to start the seasons of Advent and Christmas: grateful, content, and loved. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Individual or Family Activity</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spend some time creating a list of things you are thankful for. Try to think of at least a dozen people or things or events or experiences. Think about or explain to others why you are thankful for what you are thankful for. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Individual or Family Prayer for Thanksgiving Day </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear God, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Create in me a thankful heart.<br />Develop in me a grateful mind.<br />Give me an appreciative spirit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I confess feelings of jealously toward the actions of others.<br />I confess feelings of envy toward the possessions, attributes, and skills of others.<br />I confess feelings of greed that have caused ungratefulness in my life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Create in me a thankful heart. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have focused on what I don’t have rather than what I do have.<br />I have taken for granted many of your blessings.<br />I have wanted more than I have needed.<br /><i>Create in me a thankful heart. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For Your fellowship<br />For my family<br />For my friends<br /><i>I give you thanks. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For a warm bed to sleep and good food to eat<br />For clean water to drink and a clear mind to think<br />For comfortable clothes to wear and a life to share </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I give you thanks. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For your grace for my mistakes<br />For your power when I am weak<br />For your love when I am alone<br /><i>I give you thanks. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For your presence and promise in times of grief and trials </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For your hope and light in days of despair and darkness<br />For creating the unique person I am<br /><i>I give you thanks.</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For laughter and smiles and hugs and most tears<br />For the ability to embrace and to be embraced<br />For recovery, restoration, repair, and reconciliation<br /><i>I give you thanks.</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give me an appreciative spirit.<br />Develop in me a grateful mind.<br /><i>Create in me a thankful heart. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Amen.</i></span><br />
<!--EndFragment-->Craig Finnestadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07316685087307154213noreply@blogger.com0