October 26 - November 01

8 comments:

Tim Suttle said...

I did my early morning prayers today and the BCP morning office just now. I'm hoping for a day filled with the presence of the Holy spirit.

Peace,

-t

Kristen said...

I am going to try and finish Ephesians today for group tonight.

Scott Savage said...

These words from 2 Timothy 4:1-5 stood out to me this morning.

"I solemnly charge you in the presence of god and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardships, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."

My first thought was about other people who do this. However, I slowly realized that I am not beyond blame, or out of blames reach for this same thing.

This reminds me that we preach the truth, but we so confessionally. Our exhortations, rebukes, and reprovings are fundamenally peaceful, thus patient. The work of an evangelist is never done in fear and with violent oppression so as to make others believe what we do. It is will patient endurance that we preach the word. And I would add that when we talk to those who think differently that we do (like, from a totally different paradigm) we should be gentle.

Lord, keep us from tickling the ears of others with our own word configurations. We pray our words flow from a deep knowing of Your Word, Jesus Christ. We pray our communion be deeper than our language as we learn how to speak the truth to one another in love. Amen.

Beth said...

Met with God this morning...read through Ephesians 1 to start preparing for our community group study. Really want to rely on the Spirit to guide and look forward to time w/ Him this week doing so. Give me ears to hear, Lord! Also read in Psalms - especially love the words of David in 15 - and in 1 Corinthians. Good stuff.

I've been very encouraged by the enthusiasm for Advent Conspiracy! God only knows how this year will play out for our body, but it's so cool to be a part of His work as He transforms our hearts!

Scott, I really enjoyed your blog this morning!

Tim Suttle said...

I did the BCP office this morning then had fun reading about what you all are doing in your daily devotions. It was really encouraging to me & I thank God for a chance to hear what our church staff is hearing from God.

I love doing serving the church with you guys.

Peace,

-t

Scott Savage said...

Yesterday I finished my first cycle through all four gospels so this morning I began again in Matthew. I am trying to be a little more disciplined in what I do first thing in the morning, like Tim was saying last week with praying the matins. I was recently challenged to not let email rule the first and last things I do. The article I read was saying that this is a new addiction for many people. I don't think email is ruling my life like that, but I am definitely aware of its presence throughout my day. I am wondering about some steps I can take in this. One thought I had was to not check email for like a ten to twelve hour period everyday. So from say 9pm at night to 7am in the morning I am not aloud to check email. The article lists a number of reasons this is helpful. One that struck me was how email can distract us from long and deep thought, whether in study or in listening to others. If we are not careful, it can train us to inhabit our world with very little attention spans before we wanting to go on to the next thing.

Also, I kind of feel weird sharing this here but I wanted to get it out there since you are my people :) I go back and forth these days feeling like I am doing my best. Of course, a lot of it has to do with Miles being born. I just don't know how to do this yet. Yesterday was a rough day with the kid. I can totally feel the battle going on inside me between (1) caring for another person and (2) being selfish and wanting freedom on my terms. And I'm not really looking for the "fix it" answer. I think deep down I know that it doesn't work like that. But I'm just struggling to find some balance and centering in my life. I think maybe the three major changes I have experienced in the last year are catching up with me (new church, graduation, new baby). Anyways, please remember me in your prayers. This isn't a crisis or anything. It's just my day-to-day being in the trenches needing someone else to know what's going on in my life. And that has always been really difficult for me to share. After all, am I not the one who is supposed to have it all together? (at least that's what I have always told myself). :) Peace, ya'll.

Tim Suttle said...

Scott,

Thanks for bring out your concerns. I really like your thinking on email. I think a similar discipline might be in order for me as well. The deep reflection thing resonates. Also for me I think sometimes I let an angry or emotionally taxing email hijack my day or even week.

About the other concern you shared. I promise not to try and fix you but only want to encourage you. I think you are doing a great job at work. And I see you trying to do your very best for Miles and Katie. I know the same struggle & for what it's worth sometimes I get it right and sometimes...not so much. But I have confidence in you and your ability to navigate it. Just your ability to raise the question for yourself is really a sign that you are being faithful - especially if faithful is define not as the perfection of the gift but the giving of the gift.

I did the BCP hours this morning and didn't do Matins cause I was in a hurry.

-t

Tracy said...

Scott - thanks for the email thoughts. I would say that I am definitely aware of it's presence throughout my day. It can be a distraction from deep reflection and my kids at times. I am going to try to work on this.

I'm not going to try to fix you either, but I could identify with your other concern as well. I remember how it rocked my self-perception and brought out hidden pieces of me when we had Taylor. I too was always the one who "had it all together", had unending patience and didn't see myself as selfish in the least bit. Most of my understanding of grace, joy, mission, sacrifice, love and patience is a result of having kids. I just wonder how deeply I would be learning these things without them. Anyway, welcome to the parenting trench!

My issue right now is balance. My plate is too full and, because of the pace, I am not really enjoying anything. Current moments are seen through a cloud of what's next or what needs to be done. This is usually when I start "introverting". So...it's not you - it's me. :)

Oh...and Steve's mom called me yesterday wanting Christmas lists. I think I might have been a bit short with her - ugh!

I did the morning office and daily readings today.
t-