Discipleship - September 2007

GRACE

“The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside quiet waters.  He restores my soul.”   Psalm 23: 1-3

It’s about living by grace.

John 10: 14

We need to learn to see God’s grace around us.  Jesus is our example.

Matthew 6: 26

In our hectic life how many acts of God’s grace do we miss?

The Discipline of Noticing

To truly pay attention is a powerful thing.

Think about it!

The breath you just took

The way your mind is taking in these words

The way your eyes can read the words on the screen

These are gifts not accidents

You and I need this week to see God’s gifts of grace and seize the moments of grace. All around us in our everyday world our Shepherd has provided everything necessary to transform your soul and mine from a rushed and often

Stressed soul into a restored one.

“Earth’s crammed with Heaven,
And every common bush afire with God,
But only he who sees takes off his shoes.” - Elizabeth Barrett Browning

“The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not be in want.”

As we notice gifts of God’s Grace around us then we’ll want to know this Grace-giver more personally.

Contentment doesn’t always come from getting your desires.

“What if God says No?  What if the request is delayed or even denied? If God says “I’ve given you my grace and that is enough” will you be content?  That’s the word.  A state of heart in which you would be at peace if God gave you nothing more that He already has." - Max Lucado  “In the Grip of Grace.”

Philip Keller

We need to get into God’s Word daily so that we can hear Him speak.

John 10: 27-28

1.  How content are you?

Very?  Somewhat?  Not feeling much of anything?  Middling discontent?  Regularly discontent?‘

2.  In the light of your answer, what are the greatest barriers in your life that keep you from seeing God as a green-  Pasture-loving, still-water giving, soul restoring Shepherd?