The Pastor’s Blog
It has been a blessing to watch as God has moved among us to lead us to the person that He has prepared to be the next pastor of Medford Friends Church. In the days to come, please continue praying for God’s blessing and work in the transition process and for His touch and blessing upon Jesse Davis as he looks forward to moving to Medford to serve as pastor.
Moving toward the completion of this process as I transition into retirement has forced me to get serious about cleaning out my office. Through the last 24 years I’ve given my office a thorough cleaning on several occasions, but it’s been nothing like I need to do now.
As I’ve gone through drawers and shelves, more than once I’ve found myself scratching my head and saying, “Why did I ever keep that?” I’m amazed at how many garbage bags of “important” stuff I’ve carted off to the dumpster without missing a single thing that I’ve thrown out.
This experience got me to thinking about the “important” stuff we allow to clutter our lives; stuff we allow to hang around, even store, even though it no longer has any use or relevance in our lives.
This can happen in our spiritual lives too. We allow our lives to become cluttered with stuff like sins and regrets from the past, worries in the present and fear of the future. We hold on to old dreams that God has not chosen to fulfill in our lives, anger over past hurts and the pain of past failures. If we aren’t careful we can clutter our lives with so much useless stuff that Jesus has no room to work in us or through us.
This month, take some time to take an inventory of the things that you have been hanging onto in your heart and life. As you examine each thing, invite the Lord to tell you what you can get rid of. As you find stuff that needs to be thrown out, take time to confess, forgive, learn the lessons, make the changes, receive healing and let go. I think that you will find that you are both blessed and relieved as the old clutter is cleaned out, making room for even more of what God wants to do in and through you.
God’s Grace and Peace,
Mark
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Home Study for December 1 through 6, 2014
Monday – Read Psalm 34:8
How is the Lord described here?
What does that mean to us?
What hope does that give you?
How can you share that hope with those who need to hear it?
Tuesday – Read Psalm 23:1-6
Who is the source of the goodness and love mentioned in verse 6?
How can we experience that goodness and love every day?
How can we share that same goodness and love with others?
How does this passage encourage you? How does it challenge you?
How will you respond?
Wednesday – Read Psalm 37:1-9
What direction do we receive here about doing good?
What promises do we see here?
How does this passage encourage you? How does it challenge you?
What will you do?
Thursday – Read James 1:22-25
What direction do we receive here about growing in goodness?
How have you found this to be true in your life?
What does it take for us to both know what’s good and to do it?
How will you respond to this passage?
Friday – Read Matthew 7:15-20
What does it take for us to produce good fruit in our lives?
Why is this important?
What can we do to grow in goodness and good fruit?
How does this passage challenge you? How will you respond?
Saturday – Read Galatians 5:22-23
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Home Study for November 24 through 29, 2014
Monday – Read Psalm 100:1-5
What reasons does the writer of this psalm give for thanking God?
What acts of worship does he use as he gives thanks?
What are some ways you will give thanks to God today?
Tuesday – Read Colossians 3:15-17
How does giving God thanks lead to receiving His peace?
How can we do all things with a heart of thanks?
What is God saying to you? How will you respond?
Wednesday – Read Philippians 4:4-7
When you pray, do you pray for what you want or for what you think is right or do you pray for God’s will to be done?
Why can we pray with thanksgiving when we don’t know how God is going to work or answer our prayer?
How does praying for God’s will to be done and praying with thanksgiving lead to receiving Christ’s peace?
What is God saying to you? How will you respond?
Thursday – Read Psalm 136:1-26
Read this Psalm as your prayer, remembering what God has done in/for you.
Friday – Read Jeremiah 29:11-13 and Romans 8:28
What does it mean to you to know that God has a plan for your life and that when you seek Him you will find Him?
What does it mean to you that God will work everything for your good when you love and serve Him?
What are you struggling with in these days?
Take it to Jesus in prayer.
Saturday – Read Galatians 5:22-23
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Home Study for November 17 through 22, 2014
Monday – Read Romans 2:1-4
Why is it spiritually dangerous for us to pass judgment on others?
Why is God’s judgment fair?
What does God’s kindness lead us toward?
Why is it important to understand this?
How can our kindness do the same for others?
Tuesday – Read Romans 11:22
In His perfect love God can be both stern and kind.
What is the purpose of His sternness?
What is the purpose of His kindness?
Think of a time that God was stern with you, was His sternness also an act of kindness?
Give Him thanks for His sternness and kindness.
Wednesday – Read Philippians 2:1-4
How does acting in love lead us to acts of kindness?
How does selfishness keep us from being kind?
How does humility overcome selfishness?
What is most challenging to you in this passage?
How will you respond?
Thursday – Read Philippians 2:5-11
How has God shown us the ultimate kindness?
How can we follow His example?
What is Jesus saying to you?
How will you respond?
Friday – Read Philippians 2:12-13
Who works in us to act according to God’s good purpose?
Does His good purpose include acting in kindness as He is kind?
How can we best do that?
Take time in prayer to ask God to work in you and through you according to His good purpose.
Saturday – Read Ephesians 5:15-21
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