Student of the Word

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.

2 Timothy 2:15-16 (NIV)

I loved my years as a college student, all 6 of them! It took me some time to finally find my niche, what I was that I really loved and wanted to do the rest of my life. Education was a challenge that stimulated my desire to explore, probe and deepen my understanding of life. There were times when I asked the timeless questions like, "Why do I have to learn about long division mom when I can just use a calculator."

The culmination came in May 1971 as I walked proudly across the stage at Bethany Bible College to receive my degree! I was done, no more books, no more tests, no more note taking, no more long term papers to write, and no more learning. It was finished.

NOT! Learning is a lifetime endeavor. There is always something more to learn to help us mature and negotiate the twists and turns of life. The greatest source of learning is the book, the special God-breathed book called the Bible. The more you read, study, and dig into it the more you learn, about yourself, God, and his church. If you rely on a once a week shot at it, you are most likely weak and ineffective in your walk with God. It is a daily experience of searching, mediating, and digesting this wonderful source of all wisdom.

What can you do to improve your understanding of the Word?

1. Get a good study Bible
   
2. Pray before you begin to read. Pray that the Holy Spirit will illuminate the word to you.
   
3. Don't focus on how much you can read but on how deep you can go.
   
4. What is the one take away? What one thing did you learn that can be applied today to your walk with Christ?
   
5. It may be best for you to spend a month or maybe two on one book reading it over and over again to gain a deep understanding of what it says, what it means and what it means to you.
   

 

Be diligent, consistent and persistent is setting at as an important priority of your life study of the work of God.

Listen to the lesson from Sunday by clicking on the following link.

 

http://www.windsorassembly.org/v.php?ID=2&FILE=video/PaulVeliquette082607.mp3

 

 

 

 

Light of the World

What wattage are you?

14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

From time to time when driving late at night, the road seems to be very difficult to see. This happens often when we have the summer rains. I run the wipers and it makes no difference. The problem is that the lenses of the headlights have become covered with a layer of mud and debris interfering with the ability of the lights to illuminate the road ahead. It happens subtly and over a long period of time.

Life is like that. Sometimes the intensity of our light dims as the mundane things of life covers up the lens of life. Perhaps it is time for a good washing!

As you consider the implications of the statement Jesus made, think about the following questions.

1. What level of personal responsibility do I sense in my own life regarding being light? In what ways do I shift the "light" thing to the ambiguous they?
   
2. If I were a light bulb, how would I rate my "wattage", 25, 75 100, 200?
   
3. What can I do to increase my brightness? What steps do I need to take this week?
   
4. What kinds of things do I do that "hid" my life?
   
5. Who in your life right now needs light? Focus on one, not the multitudes.
   

Remember, Jesus left us here to complete the work of spreading the good news of the Gospel. Don't be overly concerned with style of sharing, or "training". Just be yourself and tell your story.

 

 

Jars of Clay

Hard Pressed on every side, but not crushed
Perplexed, but not in despair
Persecuted, but not abandoned
Struck down, but not destroyed

Please listen again to the Lesson from Sunday, August 12 to refresh your awareness of the outline. The reality of our life of following Christ is that there will be times in our lives where we will dwell in one of the four categories the Apostle Paul describes. The issue therefore is one of continuing to have a sense of Faith and an attitude of perseverance when it does come.
Think about the most recent hard time of your life and determine which of the four categories it fits into. Focus on the people in your life that have helped you through that time and ask the following questions.

Who did I call on when this situation intensified?
Was the relationship with that person build during times of relative peace and quiet?
What did they say or do to help me through that hard time?
What passage of scripture did they steer you to?
Have you every returned the favor by standing with them in their time of need.
The body of Christ is meant to be the source of help and strength in times of need. However, those deep, enduring, and helpful relationships need to be cultivated and built in the times when you are NOT in crisis! They tend to be healthier and stronger when you are prepared for the hard times before they happen.
Make it your goal this week to build, enhance and develop a current relationship so as to be prepared for difficult times. Please review the sermon on authentic friendships. It will be a great help to you.