I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. What a great service on Sunday! God is so good. Keep praying and believing for great things at Laurentian.
Chrissy and I were able to go down south and be with several from my family. If I eat any more turkey I think I'll start to gobble gobble (I'm sure I'll have some room by next weekend and our Thanksgiving left-overs pot-luck though...ha). While we were there we decided to go for a hike and see a huge tree that my brother Mark discovered in the bush. The photos below don't really do it justice. It was massive. It would be interesting to know how old it is. We think it is an Elm. It is always amazing how something that big and tall stands the test of time. It would be neat to look down from above with something like infrared and see the tree's root system under the soil. Perhaps we could call it "infra-wood" :) We know that the roots would extend deep and wide to keep such a big tree standing when the wind blows. Slowly, over many years, and many storms, the roots have grown and the tree keeps reaching for the sky. You can guess the spiritual application, can't you?
Matthew 13:20-21 says, "The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away". How do we get a good root system? Well, just like this tree, it doesn't happen overnight. It is through faithfully eating our daily bread, sharpening one another and asking God for growth, cause just like a tree can't grow without the sun and the mystery of photosynthesis, we can't grow deep roots without being connect to the SON and the mystery of new life He produces in us (ok, maybe a bit of a stretch, sun/Son, but you get the picture). So, what kind of root system would we see in your life if we used our "infra-wood" sensors. What can you do today to grow your roots a bit deeper and wider?
Key Verse from Sunday:
Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. -Philippians 4:6, NIV
Recap
Be Thankful for a Change.
Being a thankful person...
1. It can change your attitude (Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!").
2. It can change your perspective (Philippians 4:6, see key verse above).
3. It can change your generosity (2 Corinthians 9:11, "You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion...)"
4. It can change your heart (1 Corinthians 10:16, "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?").
There is a humility that comes from being thankful because you realize where you could be and by the grace of God where you're not.
Question for Reflection
Is there an area of your life that you need to be thankful instead of grumpy, pessimistic or angry?
Questions for me are welcome.
-Jason
Chrissy and I were able to go down south and be with several from my family. If I eat any more turkey I think I'll start to gobble gobble (I'm sure I'll have some room by next weekend and our Thanksgiving left-overs pot-luck though...ha). While we were there we decided to go for a hike and see a huge tree that my brother Mark discovered in the bush. The photos below don't really do it justice. It was massive. It would be interesting to know how old it is. We think it is an Elm. It is always amazing how something that big and tall stands the test of time. It would be neat to look down from above with something like infrared and see the tree's root system under the soil. Perhaps we could call it "infra-wood" :) We know that the roots would extend deep and wide to keep such a big tree standing when the wind blows. Slowly, over many years, and many storms, the roots have grown and the tree keeps reaching for the sky. You can guess the spiritual application, can't you?
Matthew 13:20-21 says, "The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away". How do we get a good root system? Well, just like this tree, it doesn't happen overnight. It is through faithfully eating our daily bread, sharpening one another and asking God for growth, cause just like a tree can't grow without the sun and the mystery of photosynthesis, we can't grow deep roots without being connect to the SON and the mystery of new life He produces in us (ok, maybe a bit of a stretch, sun/Son, but you get the picture). So, what kind of root system would we see in your life if we used our "infra-wood" sensors. What can you do today to grow your roots a bit deeper and wider?
Key Verse from Sunday:
Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. -Philippians 4:6, NIV
Recap
Be Thankful for a Change.
Being a thankful person...
1. It can change your attitude (Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!").
2. It can change your perspective (Philippians 4:6, see key verse above).
3. It can change your generosity (2 Corinthians 9:11, "You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion...)"
4. It can change your heart (1 Corinthians 10:16, "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?").
There is a humility that comes from being thankful because you realize where you could be and by the grace of God where you're not.
Question for Reflection
Is there an area of your life that you need to be thankful instead of grumpy, pessimistic or angry?
Questions for me are welcome.
-Jason
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