Happy New Year, LifeGroupers…
Something came up this evening that will unfortunately prevent me from being able to facilitate LifeGroup Online tonight. Without thinking, I left my Macbook Pro at work… so I have no camera! But to not make your visit here a complete waste – I do want to give you the opportunity to post your prayer needs and discuss with one another the following little lesson (using the comment section).
I will be posting and discussing as well using my trusty old PC at home so “stay in” with me and give this a shot tonight. My hope is that this will provoke some thought and help steer the direction of LifeGroup Online in this new year.
We will be back on for reals LIVE next week — Wednesday, January 7 at 8:30pm (CST).
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AND FEEL FREE TO CHAT IN THE BOX PROVIDED
Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. “Consider your ways!” He declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God had told them. (Haggai 1:5)
Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause and think about the direction of their lives. It’s so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we’re going and where we should be going.
The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God. Answer one or answer all. I’d love to see your hearts. If you’d be more comfortable… feel free to email me instead at crystal.renaud [at] gmail.com.
1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?
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As always… if you haven’t — add this to your blogs & sidebars to promote the heck out of this online community.
1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God? I think just spending more time with him. I sometimes make it more of a chore than a blessing and privilege.
2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year? Hmmmm.. have to get back to you on this one.
3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year? Well, I suppose get one is a start ;) I really need to work on my relationship with my mom. And my dad.
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it? Read more Bible. Just started the reading plan at http://youversion.com/one-year-bible. Looking forward to that, but also to just sitting and reading whatever God puts on my heart to read.
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year? Does my job count? I don’t enjoy my job, though I am thankful for it. I spend too much time in angst over it.
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church? New way? Hmmmm….
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year? My sister and her hubby.
8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year? Love, love, love. Love more. Love people. Love people more. Be His hands and feet.
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year? Already started – praying with a friend almost every morning.
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity? Mission trip to Romania and possibly to the St Louis Dream Center
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HEY!!! un-ban me! I’ll behave this time… sort of.
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1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
Spend more time in prayer, serve more, actually tithe (financial resolution for the 2009) year.
2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
My family. My dad particularly.
3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
Be open to my dad if he chooses to be open to me.
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
Prayer and tithing.
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
Facebook and addictinggames.com Hopefully work more and thus have less free time to actually spend on these sites. Or invest more in my friendships so I have stuff to do at night.
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
Volunteer more.
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
My brother’s, that he finds God again.
8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?
Be more respectful to my parents.
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
Actually pray right then and there, rather than trying to wait until it’s bed time and attempt to remember it all.
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?
Invest in my middle school girls. Or educating people with my job.
Crystal, what are your responses to these questions?
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Great post Crystal!
1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God? For me, obedience is the thing I know will bring more enjoyment in my relationship with God. Obedience brings freedom and freedom brings joy.
2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year? I have asked God to restore a particular relationship, and it’s the type of situation that needs a miracle to reconcile.
3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year? I don’t have my own family yet. Although, including my parents in more of my life will bring a greater quality to my relationships with them.
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it? Prayer…make a daily appointment with God in my planner!
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year? TV, for sure. I’ve done a TV fast before, and I think it’s about time to do it again. That would make more room for time with God and reading more books. Reading is better for the brain anyway ;o)
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church? Serving in the children’s ministry
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year? Family members
8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year? I’m a good starter, but not a good finisher. I want to finish what I start this year.
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year? Actually have an intentional prayer life!
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity? Invest in the lives of my family while I’m still single and have the time!
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Sorry I am late getting to these…I thought about the questions for a few days…great questions!
1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
relax more with Him, I am slowly learning this!
2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
To bring someone special into my life- of the male persuasion :) (holy cow I could not type that without crying)
3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
Spend more quality time together…it is on my list of hopes this year.
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
Community, I need to stop being afraid and find a church I love and not attend the church I attend because it is expected.
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
television… numbering the shows I watch and having a time limit each night.
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
Umm first I have to find one :o)
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
My Dad
8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?
Being authentic and being myself- stop worrying about what others think of me and just. be. me.
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
not rush, take the time and savor it.
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?
I hope what I do most days, work. God has put me in a place to plant seeds in teenagers lives and share the love of Christ with them.
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