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Notes to accompany "Being a spiritual person, Week 1 "

Question?  How is your spiritual life going?

Are you becoming more loving towards God and people?

Mark 12: 30-31

Every moment is an opportunity to do life in Jesus’ Name

                                                      Colossians 3: 17

How are you doing with each of the following in Jesus’ Name?

  • Waking up
  • Greeting those you see first thing
  • Eating and Drinking
  • Relationships
  • Driving
  • Working
  • Shopping
  • Watching TV
  • Going to sleep

Let’s look at GRACE

Luke 15.  Parable of the Prodigal Son

Two prodigals and a gracious father

One son’s lostness is obvious

But the older son is just as lost

There’s a bit of both sons in our hearts

We look for self-fulfilment, or admiration or status or physical gratification.

We have an easier time being saved by grace than living in grace.  We too easily become judgmental and

unloving.

Grace starts with repentance and receiving God’s forgiveness   Luke 15: 21-24

Grace is about opening our eyes to see the Father’s goodness to us.

We grow in grace when we enjoy life.

“Everything I have is yours!”

“It has taken me much spirit and work to make the elder son as well as the younger son in me turn around and receive the welcoming love of the Father.”

            Henri Nouwen  “The Return of the Prodigal Son”

Only as we learn to live in the grace of the Father’s house can we become like Him.  And we become drawn to extend His grace-giving ways. As we learn to live in grace we find ourselves living more and more like Jesus.

This week try to consciously live in God’s grace

  • Wake up and thank Him for a new day.
  • Pay more attention to His daily provisions, clothes, food, a home, a shower, the ability to see, think hear, feel.
  • Pay more attention to His grace around you – flowers, trees, birds, a smile, a hug, moments of laughter.
  • Slow down a little when you’re eating a meal. Enjoy it as His gift.
  • When you’re doing something you enjoy consciously engage in it with your Father.
  • When you fail, bring it honestly to Him. Then receive His open arms of forgiveness.
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to help you learn to live in God’s grace and to extend it to others.

Ephesians 1: 3-8

 

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