FINDING GLORY Wednesday

Thoughout history, God has asked his people to celebrate His presence among them and care for them. The Old Testament feasts celebrated God’s faithfulness and the Last Supper commemorates the new covenant we share with God through Christ’s shed blood. God knows our nature. We need to remember His faithfulness regularly so Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).

Consider today’s scripture and discussion questions as it relates to remembering God and declaring His presence so that others will know and remember Him also:

He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.” Joshua 4:21-24

When the nation of Israel had finished crossing the Jordan River, the Lord told Joshua to construct a memorial. Why do you think God insisted on this?

Specifically, what might God want you to DO (like setting up a pile of stones) or SAY (share a Glory Story) so that people will know that God is very much alive, present and active among us and that the hand of the Lord is powerful?

If you are part of a past or current Finding Glory Group, please give us your feedback about what is going well, what could be better, and how God is working. Your comments help us develop and improve future resources. Please write us at larry@walkrightin.org or lisa@walkrightin.org.

These “Finding Glory Wednesdays” posts are an online discussion series based on the books Finding Glory in the Thorns and the companion Finding Glory in the Thorns: Group Discussion Guide by Larry and Lisa Jamieson. For more information about Finding Glory Groups, visit http://www.findingglory.com/findingglorygrou.html.

FINDING GLORY Wednesday

Even the great heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11 did not always get to see the fruits of their faithfulness. Consider this scripture and question today:

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. Hebrews 11:1-2

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Hebrews 11:39-40

Have you ever felt impatient or dissatisfied when God’s ripples (His purposes, spiritual fruit, good gifts) weren’t tangible or visible enough to you?

What inspired the patient endurance of those faithful "ancients?"

What nurtures your own faith and endurance when the fruit of your faithfulness is not very visible?

These “Finding Glory Wednesdays” posts are an online discussion series based on the books Finding Glory in the Thorns and the companion Finding Glory in the Thorns: Group Discussion Guide by Larry and Lisa Jamieson. For more information about Finding Glory Groups, visit http://www.findingglory.com/findingglorygrou.html.

FINDING GLORY Wednesday

There is an undeniable interconnection between joy and thankfulness because that’s the way God designed it to be. May God use today’s scriptures and discussion questions to enlighten us and show the way toward greater joy.

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:28

What practical things can you do to cultivate a grateful heart before God?

These “Finding Glory Wednesdays” posts are an online discussion series based on the books Finding Glory in the Thorns and the companion Finding Glory in the Thorns: Group Discussion Guide by Larry and Lisa Jamieson. For more information about Finding Glory Groups, visit http://www.findingglory.com/findingglorygrou.html.

Back to Basics

Reading Jesus’ teaching about the fruitful vine has always been a helpful way for me to start a new year:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  John 15:1-5

Periodic, intentional and aggressive “pruning” is always important because it serves to keep us firmly rooted in and thriving in our Vine. But getting back to the basics of life and faith are especially critical when confronted with things like crisis, chaos, discouragement or fear. Since that’s how Larry and I are starting 2012 — at times, overwhelmed and fearful — we’ve been re-anchoring on some of Jesus’ foundational teachings:

• Abide in the Vine
• Love others
• Have faith like a child

These aren’t resolutions. These are a matter of survival and the way to thrive. And that’s not our theory. That’s God’s Divine promise.

NOTE: Due to a very full January calendar for our family and ministry, I am trimming my Blogging schedule for the next several weeks. I don’t like it. Writing is my passion and I have a lot of ideas about things to share soon. So even as I pray that the Lord keeps this quiet season short, I am praying that He is using the fresh start of a new year for each one of us — to train us toward the most critical things and shape us according to God’s heart.