Day 7
Day 7 - ONE WEEK - what are we learning?
BEEP: I am at Community Group and we all get a chuckle when on the hour one beep is followed by a phone beeping ~ while someone's cell phone chimes with bird calls ~ and somone's watch goes off. Beep, chirp, ring, beep. We're doing it . . . The Soul Revolution. We are trying to engage with God every 60 minutes of every day.
I wish I could say this is easy but the truth is that sometimes it is easy and sometimes it is not. There are times when I am worshipping the Lord and the beep never went off ~ it just happened ~ I am there, in His presence; in my devotions or prayer time or in the sanctuary of a worship song my spirit is connecting to the Lord with. There are other times when the beep goes off but I don't hear it because I have left my timer attached to my purse instead of my belt loop and my purse is in the other room or I am so engaed with my own agenda that it never got through to me ... am I connecting with anybody yet?
What I am noticing is that I am thinking about my God more. . . and more . . . not an hourly habit yet... but I am hopeful. As I am connecting to Him I am discovering some things about my relationship with Him that I didn't think were so. That looks like this: Beep - "Oh God I am serving You, aren't You pleased?". Rather than a thought that is not performance oriented but that is praising the One who delights in me, His creation, not because of what I do...don't do...but because I am His child and He loves me...delights in me...is for me...has a plan and purpose for my life ... That's starting to look like this: BEEP: "Oh God, thank you that your Word reminds me that You chose me, gifted me for Your purposes, and that You will complete the work You have begun in me. Praise you Jesus. Praise you Lord. Thank you God. Keep my eyes on You I pray, off of me and on You. Praise You Jesus.".
I am so grateful to be on this journey together with you - the Body of Christ. Take us deeper Lord Jesus. Take us deeper.
In His Grip,
Lynn
Day 6
I have been in Florida the past week--just got back today. The 60-60 experiment began while I was there. I'm finding it's even harder than I thought. The first couple of days were fine. I could pretty well pay attention to the beeps and connect with God on some level when I was supposed to. Those days I was on vacation, relaxing. I had time. I did have to remember to keep the beeper with me, though. It was just Dave and I, and he also had his beeper.
The next couple of days, we were with my son, his wife and 7 month old baby. The beeps were coming mostly in the middle of conversation, and it was not "convenient". I tried to keep up with it, but it was hard. I was distracted. Then today on the plane, I shut off the beeper, thinking it might cause a disturbance to people around me (or worse), although I still tried to remember to connect with God. (I need the beeper.)
But it was on the way to the airport that I learned the best lesson of my day. As I was "connecting" with God, I was thanking Him for my son's family but feeling sad about leaving them. I felt so blessed with the time we had spent together, and I was filled up with the love I have for them, but I was missing them. Then my thoughts went to God's love for me as his child. Here I am missing my children and longing for our next connection. Is that how God feels waiting for my next connection with Him? I realized that it must be so. The feelings of my own loneliness gave me a new perspective. I don't want God to be lonely for me. I want to warm his heart by spending time with him. Often. At least every 60 minutes!! I am thankful for this learning, and there's so much more to be learned in the coming days of the 60-60. Wow!
Day 5
Please Whisper To Me
I was really moved by the Holy Spirit during last Sunday's worship service. Pastor Steve's illustration at the beginning of his message was a powerful reminder of why we are doing this Soul Revolution--because we need to get our priorities in order! I was also honored to share something very personal with all of you, the song, "Please Whisper To Me." Today I wanted to take a minute to tell you how and why that song was written.
My friend Todd and I love playing music together. He lives in Watertown, NY, and is one of the best musicians I have ever played with. More importantly, he is a humble worshipper and Christ follower. Several years ago we sat down together--me with my guitar, he with his violin--and we began to talk about those moments in life in which we are desperate to hear God's voice. We talked about trials, struggles, and the ways in which we have tried to hear His voice through those difficult moments. What we discovered was that He was speaking but we weren't really listening. We began to see that our idea of listening was that God would speak to us on OUR terms, when in reality He speaks to us in under HIS terms. The prophet Elijah experienced this in 1 Kings 19:11-13:
"11-12 Then he was told, "Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by." A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn't to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn't in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but Godwasn't in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper. 13-14 When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked..."
I always thought that since God was so powerful He would speak to me through those fiery, earth-shaking moments, and He does, but not all the time. The chorus to the song Todd and I wrote that night became our prayer: "I don't need to feel | the ground shake beneath | I just need to rest in Your perfect peace | And I'm on my knees | Won't You please whisper to me"
Perhaps you could make that your prayer this week. Here's the song we recorded that night (MP3 format for download), blessings...
-Joshua
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Day 4
Day 4. Reminds me of the Star Trek intro – Captain’s Log, Day 98933 on the Starship Enterprise, Conducting a search for intergalactic intruders somewhere in the Orion Galaxy.
But it’s only Day 4, the location is Upstate New York, the vehicle is me and the purpose of my journey is to discover how to have an ongoing connection with God. I need to say that I thought I was pretty good at this – until actually doing the 60/60 Experiment. Here’s why - I often pray and read the Bible in the morning. I pause before eating to thank God for the meal and more. I pray with the kids at night. And because of my role as a pastor I pray before meetings and, often, after being with people. I figured I was more than halfway to connecting with God at least hourly. But it hasn’t gone the way I thought it would.
I find myself disrupted when the buzzer beeps and I’m in the middle of something important. Now what? How long do I have to stop to have the pause count? And if I stop will I be able to get my thoughts back on track?
And if I’m with people who are also doing the 60/60 Experiment and the beep beeps, now what? If I stop and pray it feels fake. If I don’t it feels like . . . . . .I’m asking people to do something I’m not willing myself.
And then there’s this – I’m surprised at how disconnected from God I can get in less than an hour.
Next time I write on this blog it will be Day 11. I thought I would be further along the journey by Day 4 so I’m not sure where I’ll be on Day 11 but, in spite of the slow start, I’m convinced this is a journey worth making.
Here’s what I wrote in my journal on Day 2 – I think I’ll read it often because it reminds me why I’m on this road.
What would it look like to have God invade my life?
My life would be characterized by peace. Not that every conflict would disappear but rather the conflict would not overtake my heart.
The presence of God would awaken my mind to the day ahead. To its possibilities and the joy it holds. He reminds me that He will walk with me through every situation I face. I turn to Him for guidance and I listen for His voice. Sometimes I stop what I’m doing to talk with Him. When I’m afraid or angry or tempted I ask Him for perspective.
In my relationships with others I see God’s image in them even when that isn’t my first thought. I follow God’s lead by choosing to get closer to people than I would choose on my own. I get close to others but I don’t give them the power to define me – I choose to be defined first and foremost as “God’s Child.” So, when I am labeled as; “a failure”, “a success”, “a lousy parent”, “a wonderful pastor” – these labels don’t stick. They are the perceptions of people. I hear their voices but there is another voice that is louder and clearer than all the others. It’s His voice I need to hear.
I'd love to hear what you're experiencing as you tackle this Experiment. 'Til next week.
Pastor Steve
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Day 3
Since we're talking and listening to God at least every hour for 60 days, what exactly are we to do when the beeper goes off? I'm sure that you re being creative by doing things like listening to God in quiet, thanking Him for His presence and his help, etc. Something that is helpful to me is meditating on Scripture verses that I've memorized. Especially those that describe God's character or His promises. For instance, Psalm 103: "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love . . . as a father has compassion on his children so the Lord so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." Or the 23rd Psalm. When I've memorized Scripture I can recall it, meditate on it, or pray it back to God even if I can't stop what I'm involved with at the moment because I don't need to stop to get a Bible. It adds variety to our on going conversation with God, and what better way to remind us of who God is than to remember Him through His own words to us? Have a great soul revolution day!
Pastor Bill
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Day 2
Congratulations! You made it to day 2! How did it go? If you have a story that you'd like to share about how God met, challenged or spoke to you during this experiment, then please leave a comment - we'd love to hear about it.
Yesterday I was reminded of something very clearly - that God is for me. He wants me to "succeed" - to live a life in a way that honors Him. I guess I've known this for years, but it just is really coming through. He challenges me and convicts me of things in my life and then gives me the opportunity to change. How loving is that? He shows us what is right and wrong and then lets us choose which way we go.
Maybe there have been some tough circumstances in your life lately, and you have begun to see God as being out to get you. Do you know that He is still for you? That does not mean that your circumstances are easy or fun, but consider this: how might God be using the circumstances of your life to grow you closer to Him? Understanding that He is for you will totally change your perspective of Him, and of life.
Today as you interact with God, consider how He is for you. Ask Him how He wants to use each circumstance of your life to grow you.
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Day 1
Peter B. here, we had our first Community Group meeting last night and most importantly it was timed perfectly to be the day before the Big Kick-Off of the Soul revolution, 60-60 Experiment. I thought it might be helpful to relay a few thoughts we had regarding getting started. First I was surprised how many people didn't know what was expected of them during the experiement. We talked about what to do when your alarm goes off. There are no wrong answers, here's a sampling: Thank God for what happened during the passed hour; Thank God for where He has you at that very moment; Invite God into your next hour; Just acknowledge God's existance; Pray for help in the next hour; and my favorite response "Use the beeper as you would a friend poking his head in the door and saying 'Hi'. How would you respond back to a friend? Great stuff!
We also talked about the practicality of hourly reminders. Most folks in our group had yet to secure any kind of beeper or plan...ouch...hurry! One crane operator said he has both hands on controls for hours at a time and couldn't possibly risk safety and take his hands off to turn off a beeper. Suggestion was made that he get just a chimming watch that beeps once and turns itself off. He responded that he is really concentrating on his job and if we were underneath him we wouldn't want him to be distracted. I couldn't argue with that. Another, a teacher said it wouldn't be possible to withdraw for a few minutes of solitude with God while teaching a class. It was suggested that solitude was not always a necessity, but perhaps a silent quick thought to God was all that was needed. We bottomed lined to say that the goal was not to be legalistic with it or produce any guilt for failure, but any increase in relationship with our Creator would prove very beneficial.
We also talked about what we hope to get out of this experiment experience. Personally, I desire God's direction on a decision that needs to be made. It's not a sin issue, that would be too easy. Both options have the potential to be either productive or failures by worldly standards. My desire would be for God to look into the future and tell me which option to take. I'm hoping that as I grow more in tune to God in my relationship with Him, that I will sense His leading and approval with this decision, regardless of it's worldly outcome. That's the big rub for me, the word regardless. I don't always mean it. I have the spiritual head knowledge that God's ways are best, regardless. But that human side of me wants the worldly success, always, along with the spiritual. So, I guess this is the real goal for me. May regardless, be a reality in my heart, not just in my head. Enjoy your experiment, peter.
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Two Days to Go!
Our 60/60 experiment begins in just two days...are you signed on? Make sure that you have your watch, cell phone or timer handy and ready to go. Find ways over the next two days to pray and prepare your heart for this adventure (position yourself for interaction with God - HERE), and prayerfully tell God that you want Him to guide you and speak to you during this time (actively seek His voice - HEAR). Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.
What are your thoughts or feelings heading into this thing?
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One Week...
...from today will be day one of our 60 day experiment together. I am really looking forward to this time in my own life, and to hear of what GOD does in your life, as well. I am REALLY excited to be able to kick things off this weekend, and look forward to seeing you on Sunday.
Lord, have Your way in our church. As we dedicate this time to You, meet us in the ways that only You know how. May we learn to hear Your voice above all others, and may it be our desire to follow. Amen.
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A REVOLUTION?
What do you think of when you hear the word, REVOLUTION? I'll be honest, the first thing I think of is that old tune by the Beatles, "You say you want a revolution, well you know, we all want to change the world." I know that's not very "Christian," or "Pastoral" of me, but it's the truth. Today I was thinking about this big adventure our church is getting ready to begin, Soul Revolution, and I decided that I'd like to know what a revolution really is. So naturally I had to look it up and found this, among many definitions --A dramatic change in ideas and practice. Who knew that Webster's Dictionary could convict a person so much? If I'm honest, I'll admit that there are some patterns in my life that could use some change. The past few months of selling a house, moving, being away from my family, and changing jobs have been both exciting and exhausting. I find myself in need of having my soul reconnected to my Savior, which makes me realize that I NEED a dramatic change in practices. Soon, we'll begin this Soul Revolution together and set out to make some changes. So let's be honest in our struggles, authentic in our relationships, deliberate in connecting with God, and open to what the Holy Spirit wants to do in our lives. See you on Sunday.
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