Is It Worth It?

A Conversation Out of 2 Corinthians 4...

I had a conversation with a friend the other day of how since she became a Christian she has felt an increasing loneliness.  When I asked her to tell me more, she said that she does not have the same desire to be around the same people she used be drawn to and that has her at times feeling lonely.

So what do you do when as the scripture say's, "the veil has been lifted" and you begin to see life different and your hearts motivation changes?

2 Corinthinas 4 talks about a dying and a resurrection and how both are a continual journey.  Could it be that there can be things that feel like loss in the journey with Christ?

Here are a few of mine...

• Friends that are now redefined as mission.
• A loss of desire for things that used to be filling even if only temporary.
• A loss of the veil that allowed me to ignore hurt and indifference all around me.
• A loss of my own direction and satisfaction with it.
• I lost of thinking I was good enough, strong enough, and impressive enough.

What about you?  What have you lost in your following of Christ?  Is it worth it?

Worth Dying For

One of the realities of the human condition is that of war. War wages in us,outside of us and all around us. The next holiday coming on the American calendar is Independance Day! It is a celebration of that which cost so many their lives and still claims lives today. It is a celebration of that which is most taken for granted in our country but which has the greatest impact on us all living in this great nation.

Is that not the reality of anything worth dying for? In chapter 5 of "Scewtape Letters", you discover that war is something the enemy loves since it has to do with human suffering. However, it produces something the enemy fears most, an alive mind that contemplates virtue and questions cause that excites faith. The potential of war forces us to decide what is worth sacrificing for. Are our marriages, our children, the hurt of others around us, homelessness, bigotry, racism worth the sacrifice of ourselves? Is our faith?

The battle is lost not on the field of combat. It is lost in our minds. Complacent minds that live idle in the freedoms others have sacrificed for. The greatest weapon we have as people of faith is that of a mind alive in its engagement with the spirit of God. It happens in intense engagement with scripture. 

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)

Summer Pursuit is that invitation to an alive faith that is active and moving. It is an invitation to a life of purpose and meaning. It is an invitation to a bigger world that you may find is really worth dying for.

The Pinprick Spiritual Attack on Your Family

Every family is under attack from the enemy.  However, most of it is subtle and in our minds.  The dream of the enemy is to divide families and destroy people.  Sometimes that is done by big hurts. Mostly it is done over time, with one pinprick at a time, as Screwtape Letters reveals in chapter 3!  One pinprick at a time, one offense at a time and before long we have lost our intimacy and love.  It can begin as simple as our assuming a family member is oversensitive while we are speaking at face value.  At the same time we can be oversensitive on our end.  Maybe that is why Ephesians 4 tells us to speak the truth in love!

Have you seen this temptation in your family, to take offense when no offense is given?  Did you know it was the evil one wanting to ruin your family's connection??

Innocuous Prayer!

"It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds:  in reality our best work is done by keeping things out."  -  Screwtape

If prayer is to have power it must be in connection with the God of the universe.  This is not a praying to but a conversation with.  A praying to God finds us as the leading voice.  A conversation with God asks questions and listens for a response.

In "The Screwtape Letters", the work of the enemy finds it's central focus in watering down and innoculating our prayers.  It's focus is to:


1.  Keep us from realizing that our physical position matters in the matter of prayers, because it becomes
     a reflection of the heart.
2.  Keeping our impression of God in the moments of prayer focused on an image rather than the
     essence of God and his character.
3.  Making prayer more about us trying to conjure up some certain emotion, leaving us feeling
     successful in our prayer rather than a concentration on Christ that leads our hearts.

Which of these means of the enemy do you find most successful in keeping you from real conversation with Christ?

2 Chronicles 7:15
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

How Can I Find God's Will

So many people wonder about finding God's will!  Have they missed it?  Did they make the wrong choice somewhere and therefore ended up in the wrong place?  And if so, is life pretty much void of significance?

II Corinthians 2:12-14 Paul finds God has opened a door for him.  But... he doesn't walk through it!  Really?  Aren't open doors always God's will?  Maybe.  But Paul moves on to another place and then says the Lord always leads us in triumphal parade.  Surely there are moments when God's direction is clear.  But apparently at other times the will of God has options.  As one of my friends recently said to another, "I think you can choose in this moment and the Lord will love you and bless you no matter!"

The will of God may be more dynamic than we think, but this is sure, the Lord is always able to take our choices and lead us forward from victory to victory.  Relax, seek the heart of God and the will of God will be clear and He will take care of that!

Who's on Your Team?

Who's on your team?  Who stokes your fire and fuels your vision?  II Corinthians 2:12-14 this trailblazer named Paul leaves a wide open opportunity and moves on looking for his teammate Titus.  Imagine that, he leaves a wide open opportunity!  Church is not a place we go.  Church is not a Sunday experience.  Church is a group of people called together to make a difference in this world.  People... called together...to make a difference!  This Summer we want to be on your team, fueling your fire and restoring your soul so that we can have the flow of His life into and through us.  Together we experience joy, hope, vision and passion.  Come join the team at GraceRiver and experience the real meaning of "church"!

Screwtape Letters Review

Go behind the scenes of how the evil one may be attacking you and your spiritual development! This book will open your eyes and your mind to "the schemes" of the devil (II Corinthians 2:11). Written from a demon's view, "the enemy" in the book is the Lord. 

Catch what one person said as they began reading this week:
"I just wanted to thank you so much for giving us that book and encouraging us to read. I have not been able to put it down. The vocabulary was a little challenging for me (I have a dictionary by my side), but a real eye-opener... and so true. From each letter I read, I saw it in my own life how Satan was trying to pull me away from God, especially during the early days when I first became a committed Christian. The one line I loved so far (or actually hated), was when Screwtape says... "don't worry, all the habits of the person,  both mental and bodily, are still in our favour." Wow.. if that doesn't make you want to change some habits, I don't know what will! So true. A great book... thank you. I wish I would've read it a long time ago."

Summer Pursuit "A Time For Growth"

This Sunday Launched our Summer Pursuit!  It is a passionate cry to experience, know, and embrace the heart of God through the summer in a way that fuels our spiritual passion and deepens our commitment and love of Christ!

To join the Pursuit:

• Commit to Sunday's.   (On location or by podcast via the website @ www.graceriverchurch.com.
• Follow the reading plan.  (Week 1 (June 17th):  2 Corinthians 1-3 and The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis chapters 1-3)
• Follow the blog with thoughts, comments, and questions guiding our hearts together on the journey.
• Engage in the online conversation through Facebook.

Don't miss out on a Summer of Growth that fuels your passion and "Leads You to Real Life in Jesus."