In case you missed it, here's what we did last night...
Kyle did a great job leading us in singing. I really appreciate Kyle's concern for putting significant thought into choosing songs.
I shared my thoughts on Luke 10:25-37 and Matthew 5:43-48. The big idea was that it is the nature of the kingdom heart to love. I suggested that it is antithetical to the nature of the kingdom heart to cherish, excuse, or tolerate any degree of bitterness, rage, or malice toward others--even our 'enemies'.
Then we did two stations: one of emptying our hearts of malice, and one of filling our hearts with God's love. Here's the text from the stations...
EMPTYING
1. Examine the condition of your heart.
Are you holding any grudges against someone?
Do you desire someone to “get what’s coming to them”?
Have you spoken harmful words toward anyone recently?
Have you spoken harmful words about anyone recently?
2. Take a cup of the dark water in your hands. Identify that corrupted water as a picture of how hatred and malice may be corrupting your heart.
3. Read the Scripture below.
1 Peter 2:
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4. Empty your cup into the basin and ask God to empty your heart of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
FILLING
1. Identify the relationships in your life in which you need to demonstrate love, mercy, and forgiveness.
2. Read the Scripture below:
Romans 12:
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse…
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
3. Take an empty cup into your hands. As the water is poured into your cup, let it symbolize the love of God flowing into your life and out to your neighbors.
4. Ask God to change your heart so that love and forgiveness will be the hallmark of your life.
Lastly, Mike Dies led us in communion. It was so great to see people really participating in our worship service. I hope to see it more and more as people really begin to see themselves as ministers and missionaries.
One final note, my wife Torie has been demonstrating love in a way that, too often, I only talk about. She has been a friend to a woman who is in great physical danger because of an eating disorder. Marcia is 5'6" and weighs 91 pounds and needs to get treatment very soon. Please pray that God's people will step in and come up with the money to get her the treatment she needs. We are hoping she can get to Remuda Ranch in Arizona, but she needs $20,000. It is really becoming a life and death kind of thing. Above all these things, please pray that Marcia will come to see herself as God's beloved daughter, a person of immeasurable worth--a truth that she is having great difficulty believing.
Also, please pray for Randy and Kathy. Kathy was 'laid off' last Thursday along with a number of other people at her firm.
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