Daily Office Project Comments

thanks

Written by Kathe
Monday, 06 December 2010 08:15

A little sad here to see these end, however, it's great that I can refer back to them. Ps. 71 touched me today, and I appreciate the encourgement to memorize scripture. In this season, it is easy for me to get discouraged at all the commercialism, and scripture helps me look past that.

Things we dread

Written by Sondy
Thursday, 25 November 2010 14:07

I was thinking how the soldiers must have dreaded about this upcoming battle. Even if they trusted the Lord would help them, they probably didn't realize that they would not even have to fight. Kind of like my divorce court case. At the very last minute, my husband signed an agreement. So the court battle I was expecting, and knew the Lord would see me through, did not even happen. It's so cool when God does that!

Christian

Written by Judy Shelley
Monday, 15 November 2010 08:52

I am so sorry for your family's loss. What an inspiration he was. Just to imagine the world with all living their lives as the strong witness and sharing the Message as he did. Blessings. Forgive if multiple post. Problem with posting.

Day 6 a.m.

Written by lee Ann Howdershell
Wednesday, 03 November 2010 08:26

Re: Spurgeon's comment, "God’s power is like Himself, self-existent, self-sustained. The mightiest of men cannot add so much as a shadow of increased power to the Omnipotent One." Makes me think about or re-think my reasons for serving God.

Question #2

Written by Chuck Schmidt
Wednesday, 27 October 2010 22:39

I took as the answer to #2 because God reveal it to us. Question #3 then is related to what or how God has revealed to you about Himself.

Evening Reading Week 5

Written by Lee Ann Howdershell
Wednesday, 27 October 2010 21:42

I don't understand what question #3 is asking. Is the answer to #2 holy? and then is #3 asking if I am holy in any way?

Be careful in how you understand "begotten"

Written by Don Cranford
Tuesday, 26 October 2010 08:19

Be careful in how you understand "only-begotten Son of God." It refers to Jesus Christ's nature and does not mean that he was created or made. If you look further in the creed, it says "begotten not made". I believe that "only-begotten" is referring to having the same nature. "Son of God" refers to the type of relationship Jesus has to God the Father. Jesus Christ was in total submission to God the Father (see Philippians 2:5-11). Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity. Jesus Christ is God and is one in essence or substance with God the Father. If you look in John 1:1-3, it says: "In the beginning was the Word [referring to Jesus Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him [ie through Jesus Christ] all things were made; without him [ie without Jesus Christ] nothing was made that has been made." "In the beginning" refers to eternity as opposed to "from the beginning" which typically refers to the creation or as far back as humans have had experience. So it says that Jesus was/is eternal.

Begotten

Written by Dave Robinson
Tuesday, 26 October 2010 07:00

I was interested in the meaning of the term 'begotten' as opposed to 'made' in the Nicene Creed. The dictionary defines 'begotten' a form of 'beget' as : # To father; sire. # To cause to exist or occur; produce. or to bring into being. From the second definition, I now understand that Jesus was created by God, the same way He created the universe.

Idols

Written by Maria Causey
Friday, 22 October 2010 07:09

Tim Keller has a book out called "Counterfeit Gods" that was a real eye-opener for me. He makes the point that things like anger can be idols.

Born again

Written by Summer
Friday, 15 October 2010 04:30

I have always thought of being born again as a new beginning and related that to the birth of a baby. Going through the morning office it occurred to me that it is also a completely different way of life. Life in utero is fundamentally different from life out in the air. You breath and receive nourishment in a completely different way. There is light. Following Jesus involves a different way of life.

Christian Growth

Written by Lee Ann
Thursday, 14 October 2010 08:50

Question 1 (d) It is a process of gestation until we are born alive. Then we grow as we are nourished w/ food. If we choose junk food, we won’t be as healthy as if we choose real nourishment. So it is with God☺

suffering grows us

Written by kathe barsotti
Monday, 11 October 2010 07:27

it is a hard lesson to learn, but suffering can and will bring us closer to God, if we lean on Him at those times. it is a glory to share in Christ's sufferings, and to know a little of what he bore for us, it is a way for His strength to be made perfect in our weakness, even if we, like Jesus, ask for the cup to be removed. He is there, with us, catching every tear.

seeking God with all my heart

Written by Lori Bedsole
Monday, 11 October 2010 07:19

The office project has been good for me, in that, I'm getting back into the practice of spending daily time with God. Yet today reminded me that now, the next step is to move beyond the to do list aspect of spending time with him. To continue the analogy Ed gave, I think I need a spiritual diet cleanse. I feel my spirit craving time with Jesus more and more, perhaps it's time to turn off and away from some of the junk my spirit is absorbing. Gotta be honest, as I typed that, my mind and spirit just shouted what...r u serious?

You Have An Enemy

Written by Ray Schmidt
Saturday, 09 October 2010 18:40

As rational Greek minded people we look at cause and effect. With God we tend to think A+B=C. If A) God loves me and B) I am good enough then C) my life will be good. So, when things don't go write either A) God is holding out (most of us don't go there) or B) We're screwing up (most of us are all over this one). The truth is that there is another VERY important variable. Satan. We must remember that it's not just us and God; we have an ENEMY (1 Peter 5:8-9). Our enemy loaths us and will do anything, whatever it takes, to seperate us from God. Attacking us in the middle of the night is one example. Talk to me about this ... we've had experience here and for those who have been at Gateway for a while remember what happened when the church started praying about "Up To Something Good"? There was a lot of attack - sickness, marriage issues, job loss, etc. It's not coincidece Jen it's our enemy.

Hawking quote

Written by Eric F.
Friday, 08 October 2010 07:53

The Hawking quote might lead people to believe that he believes in the anthropic principle (the universe was created for us) and that God must have been behind it. I read the quote in more context here http://www.holysmoke.org/cre014.htm and he seems to be arguing that a strong anthropic argument is difficult to make. He doesn't outright claim there is no God, though. I think he thinks the creation of the universe can be explained without Him.

Cool Video

Written by Lee Ann
Thursday, 07 October 2010 09:05

The "let your mind wander from the surface of the earth, reminded me of the video attached to Francis Chan's website about his book Crazy Love. Here is the link, then click on "the awe factor of God." http://www.crazylovebook.com/index.html

multiple choice answers and John story

Written by Lori Bedsole
Wednesday, 06 October 2010 06:37

@John my first reaction to why didn't make your list, he wept because his father had died. Than I thought of your answer he knew they had lied and they were protecting themselves. @Maria- I agree with you, hard events for those who are dear to him. Just like his disciples hardship isn't spared for them.

cause and effect

Written by lori bedsole
Wednesday, 06 October 2010 06:19

We talk about cause and effect in history all the time in school, but I never thought of it beyond history or human behavior. I love the fact that God is independent of this loop of contingency. Thanks for the thoughts to ponder today.

Pointless Suffering

Written by Maria Causey
Tuesday, 05 October 2010 08:44

This lesson reminds me of what I think is one of the most powerful (and in some ways powerfully disturbing) stories in scripture. It is the story of the end of John the Baptist's life. He is imprisoned unjustly and murdered on a childish whim. This is Jesus' beloved cousin and a great prophet & man of God. Yet he doubts. It's in Matthew 11:1-6. John basically asks Jesus if He really is the Messiah. I'm sure in his mind he figured if He was, then he wouldn't be facing this pointless death. Jesus' answer is "Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me". He doesn't give John an explanation or any insight on the big picture (in fact, as far as I know, John's death is still inexplicable). Yet He wants John to stick with Him. Because yes, He is the Messiah and Lord of the Universe.

Question #2

Written by John Dickinson
Tuesday, 05 October 2010 06:32

Good Stuff! – But we need answer guides :) Question # 2 asks: Why do you suppose Joseph wept at the end of verse 17? Multiple choice: a.Because he knew his brothers were lying b.Because he just then realized his power over them c.Because he just then realized God’s bigger plan d.Because he realized he had ALREADY forgiven them e.All of the above

Freak Flag

Written by Jenny Foose
Monday, 04 October 2010 17:37

I had the chance to share this idea with someone from work today and it sparked up a really great conversation. She unfortunately had a bad experience with Catholic school growing up and it basically turned her away from the idea of religion period. I told her who Jesus was and why it was necessary for him to die on the cross for our sins. She was very interested in this concept and was eager to get her and her boyfriend involved in some sort of religious establishment! How cool is that? Our discussions will continue :)

experience thus far

Written by Jen Knickerbocker
Sunday, 03 October 2010 19:25

I'm really starting to get into the rhythm of this (or cadence, as Ed called it), and am really excited about the consistency with which I am remembering God throughout my day. On the other hand, ever since I asked God to show me what my doubts were, I've been having THE WORST nightmares...waking several times a night, driving Neil crazy while I make sure that someone didn't just break in the house, or freaking out because I didn't get something done or was late for something... So while He's answering that prayer in a strange way - showing me that I don't fully trust Him enough to give up my worrying about all kinds of crazy scenarios - I'm ready for Him to shift gears and also answer the prayer that I may rest in peace. Looking forward to this next week. The study is out of this world awesome so far.

The Valley of Weeping

Written by Sondy
Friday, 01 October 2010 08:04

A Bible I used to use had a note that "Valley of Baca" in Psalm 84:6 can be translated "Valley of Weeping." Isn't that a beautiful image? When those whose strength is in God pass through the Valley of Weeping, it becomes a refreshing place of springs. I don't know about you, but I've recently been through the Valley of Weeping. And amazingly, God can transform even that. I love it today that it also says "The autumn rains also cover it with pools." Today I'm going to Boston for a Kidlit conference, and forecasts say our rain from yesterday is going up there, too. So let that autumn rain be a reminder to me that God is giving me wonderful refreshment! Going from strength to strength...

Doubt and Complaining

Written by Sondy
Wednesday, 29 September 2010 14:39

I think that complaining is another form of doubt. Do we really believe that God will work all things together for our good, as He promised? This summer, I had to deal with this, because I got RIF'd from the librarian job I love. At my best, I thought God would work it out for good by giving me a better and higher-paying job. But after 30 applications, nothing on that front is coming out. But I did get a job with another agency at the same paygrade, so it looks like this is a break from the higher stress, more responsibility, and worse hours at the library. I've been told a librarian's retiring in November, and they can hire me back. However, there may have been more behind it: A crazy, unpredictable thing happened yesterday: I was told that the Management Analyst I position I'm in now has been reclassed to a higher paygrade. Now, this doesn't match what someone in Personnel told me, but it looks to me from the Regulations that I should get a 5% pay raise -- and get to keep the pay raise if I accept a "demotion" back to a Librarian I position. What an out of the blue gift from God! So -- if God can bring good out of losing my job, do you suppose He can bring good out of my needing $1000 of work done on my car today? Guess I shouldn't complain...

doubt

Written by gccterri
Tuesday, 28 September 2010 16:39

i agree, leeann. it's amazing how much i can justify because it sounds good and responsible when it really just comes down to my doubting that God really wants the best for me. looking at it objectively, it seems that life would be much more attractive if i really believed what my heart knows, but my sin continues the thought process that i really do know better than God. the times when i call on God first are always the times i experience rays of hope.

Doubt

Written by Lee Ann Howdershell
Tuesday, 28 September 2010 08:26

It's true that worry, anxiety, etc. are different forms of doubt. I have thought about prayer in that way -- the reason I don't pray more must be because I really don't believe or I doubt that anything will come of it. If I really believed that God has good things for me, I would be on my knees and I would be free of worry/anxiety. I also would not try to control events and figure them out on my own. Waiting for an answer would be easy -- I might even anticipate it, knowing that God has something great in store for me.

... God exists

Written by John Dickinson
Monday, 27 September 2010 11:59

It is reassuring to be reminded... God exists. It's pretty easy to go through some dry spells or tough times and forget that. Thanks for the reminder.

Looking forward to the journey

Written by Evie Showers
Sunday, 26 September 2010 19:22

Thanks for providing this devotional path for us to follow. Since I am printing these pages out and putting them in a three ring binder could you please add page numbers?

Daily Routine

Written by Lee Ann Howdershell
Saturday, 25 September 2010 09:01

I realized this week how much I rush through my day, focusing on the immediate task in front of me. I thought I made God part of my day. This project is a challenge to build in a rhythm, regardless of circumstances, to build a real and deeper connection with God during the day. A connection that will sustain me, guide me and inform me.

starting

Written by Rose Bunda
Friday, 24 September 2010 16:41

I'm excited to start! Of course, I'm a little late in beginning, and I'll be gone for a week, but this is working towards what I think my spirit has been yearning for. My body is lazy and my spirit needs this extra help to kick it into gear. Thanks for coming up with this! I seriously look forward to the next nine months.

The Flow

Written by Sondy
Thursday, 23 September 2010 13:58

Crystal, I'm doing what Don suggests. I got the e-mail with this week's readings on Tuesday and printed them out. Then I put them where I'm going to be reading them -- can even bring them up to the bedroom at night.

Same glitch

Written by Judy Shelley
Thursday, 23 September 2010 08:57

I didn't get the 5 pm text. Am excited about this project. Great job.

The Flow of the Project

Written by Don Cranford
Thursday, 23 September 2010 06:49

I believe Terri is going to be sending out the devotionals each week in a document. So you should be able to print them out before the week starts.

The Flow of This Project

Written by Crystal
Thursday, 23 September 2010 05:53

This comment is more about the project, not the scripture. It would be helpful if we already had all of the exercises in a book or "pre-packaged" instead of always having to get it from the computer. I already get up and pray in the am, but now instead of doing it right away - I have to go to a different part of the house to get into the computer, so that I can get to the am exercise. By this time, I'm already distracted; whereas, before this project...I would rise out of bed and just fall to my knees to talk to God. Please advise how this can be done more efficiently and effectively. I feel as if I'm losing the rhythm and I haven't even established it yet with this project.

night watches

Written by kathe
Wednesday, 22 September 2010 22:28

Nighttime is a time of peace and quiet for me, and it is very much easier to spend time with God and be in prayer. That said, I was able to connect with Him today in radio worship music, walking (and climbing rocks!) in the forest with two of His children, drinking real spring water, and enjoying His promise in a double rainbow on the drive home. More than made up for yesterday when I called on Him often to help me through fighting cats, high pain levels, a car accident, and brain fog. I was close to God today in joy and wonder, and yesterday in fear and survival. On contemplation of the two days, I can't say I was any closer on either day. But it is good to know He's there, regardless of the kind of day. The "watches of the night" recall for me this time of peace in which to reflect how the Spirit was active in my day. Sometimes I don't always recognize it at the time of the happening. It is good to think about it, maybe I'll begin to recognize more often God moving in my life as He does it, instead of just after, upon reflection.

Glitch?

Written by Sondy
Wednesday, 22 September 2010 21:22

I didn't get the 5 pm text. Did anyone else have that problem? The Noon one came fine.

relying on God

Written by gccterri
Wednesday, 22 September 2010 15:12

as i read this, i'm reminded of how little i think of God as i go through a day which, of course, reflects how little i rely on him. my quiet times/prayer times (when i have them) become something to check off on my "to do" list. we were made for so much more than that which makes me wonder what i'm missing. what am i missing about the depth of God? what am i missing about how he wants to draw me near? what am i missing about what life would look like to totally rely on him? these are the things i hope to grow in/discover as i try, like the psalmist, to "keep my eyes open" more consistently over the next nine months.