CHILL: Make Room

Today, we continued our new, summer series CHILL by talking about our need to Make Room in our lives. The benefits of "making room" are many: peace of mind, better health, stronger relationships and availability for God's use.

To Make Room in our lives the first thing we have to do is: Accept Our Human Limitations.

I see the limits to everything human, but the horizons can't contain your commands! Psalm 119:96 (MSG)

God has given us some built-in warning lights to let us know when we're reaching our limits: pain, fatigue, stress, loss of joy, irritability... Are any of your God-given warning lights blinking? Are you aware of your limits?

Notice the second part of Psalm 119:68 - the inference is that God is limitless. And that's why, after accepting our limitations, we need to Do Less & Trust God More!

Remember, God can do more in 20 minutes than you or I can do in 20 years.

…We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure… As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally – not a bad idea since He’s the God who raises the dead! 2 Cor. 1:8-9 (NIV/Msg)

So what's your next step this week?

How about memorizing Proverbs 22:3

A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. Proverbs 22:3 (NLT)

Then you can Read & Meditate On: Psalm 119:89-96

What "you-specific" steps will you take this week to build margin into your life?

Good Reads:

Making Room For Life by Randy Frazee

Margin: Restoring Emotional, Phusical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives by Richard Swenson

A Minute of Margin: Restoring Balance to Busy Lives by Richard Swenson

The Overload Syndrome: Learning to Live Within Your Limits by Richard Swenson

Insanity

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein

In our lives, in our families, and in our church, if we're hoping for change yet still doing the same things over and over - making the same mistakes over and over, aren't we at least a little crazy (insane)?

Palm Sunday

Yesterday was a good day of worship and communion. We also challenged Journeyers to a viral outreach plan targeted on Easter:

• Invest & Invite - Invest in the lives of those around you and Invite them to Easter at Journey
  
• Facebook - Join the JourneyKy and the LiveAmped.com groups. 
  
• http://www.LiveAmped.com - Email the site to your friends, neighbors and co-workers
  
• eInvites - Go to www.JourneyKy.org -> Contacts, and send eInvites to your email list
  
• Invite Cards - Invite Cards are available through Friday at Journey's office
  
• Fast & Pray - For God God to show up in a big way on Easter 

Pray for numerical growth
Pray for people to follow Jesus with their lives
Pray about in whom God would have you invest & invite
Pray for the ones in whom you'll be investing & inviting.

www.LiveAmped.com now LIVE

Check out the site devoted to our new series Amped! Relationships That Rock!

Pass it around!! Have Fun With It!!!

Easter 09 Cable Spot

Together - Prayer Walk

This morning I participated in Journey's Prayer Walk of Hempsteade. It was a great 1.2 mile experience for me. 

In beginning, I had to walk from my parking spot to my assigned streets. On the way I was able to praise God for the beauty of His creation - the redbuds, the pear tree blossoms, the brilliant yellow bushes (don't know what they are). 

As I began praying for the residents of each house, I prayed generally for God to meet their needs, for them to experience His peace and for Him to meet their needs. More specifically, as I encountered children's toys and play sets I prayed for the spiritual well-being of those children and in some cases child-like simplicity and faith for those parents.

When I saw repairs and renovations taking place, I prayed for any needed repairs and renovations in their lives. When I saw stacks of mulch bags, I knew they were preparing for spring and new life; then I prayed for God's new life to be evident in their home. When I saw open windows I prayed for openness to all that God wants to do in that home.

At one home I saw what looks like a new monument stone placed by a tree that was planted in memory of someone. I asked God to comfort them and fill their void with his love. 

At many of the homes I prayed for openness and receptivity to the "Together" initiative and more so to the hope of Easter as represented by Journey's Easter mailer that will be in Florence and Union homes on April 6th.

Please feel free to share your experiences of prayer-walking or your experience of being prayed for.

Mike O.

Together - post cards

In preparation for our new initiative "Together," some faithful volunteers hand-addressed 600 postcards to the residents of Hempsteade. Be sure to thank them for their hard work when you see them.