Day 20 "Restoring Broken Fellowship"

This is the chapter or the part of our lives where the rubber meets the road.  Can we learn to give grace and forgive those that have hurt us?  Are we strong enough to rebuild what is broken?  In this day in age where new people are just a click away do we value friendship as much as we used to?  I feel like they are more important than ever.  The closer this world seems to get the more distance is put between us.  When we build a relationship with someone we should cherish it and make it a priority.  we will disagree at times and we may even agree but not like what we agree about.  This will cause tension in the relationship. we need to be able to realize those tensions and break them down.  If we learn to love each other we can control the tension.  The question to consider asked Who do I need to restore a broken relationship with today?  I don't know if we have a broken relationship or just no relationship but I would say my father.  I have felt distant from my father for along time.  I don't know why I feel this way.  I can remember times in my childhood the my dad was my biggest hero.  Standing tall in his military uniform, shiny ribbons and medals.  Strips of pride running down his sleeve.  Standing strong and firm in protection of this great nation.  He was a lot for a boy to look up to.  Then some time in high school we feel apart.  We just didn't understand each other.  I didn't have time for him and he didn't seem to have time for me.  As I look back I am sure I was crushing his heart.  It is amazing the feelings you find when you have a child of your own.  When I finally moved out and let my parents home we really lost touch.  Now that my son is here we see each other more than in the past 20 years or so.  I think this book is going to help me rebuild what I have lost with my dad.  If you have someone you have a broken relationship with, maybe you should just call them.  More to come on this subject I am sure.

Day 20 "Restoring Broken Fellowship"

Point to ponder: Relationships are always worth restoring.

Verse to remember: "Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody."

Question to consider: Who do I need to restore a broken relationship with today?

Day 19 "Cultivating Community"

Man these two chapters have been speaking volumes to me these last two days.  One of the areas I struggle with in life is relationships.  I know my past have a lot to do with it, but that's the crutch or the excuse.  I can not let that rule the rest of my life.  These two chapters have basically spelled out for me what my responsibility is to foster relationships.  The main theme is to be honest and upfront with people.  To be there and be committed,  treat older people like you treat your parents and young people like brothers and sisters.  We are all part of Gods family.  This chapter spells it out like this. If you can do the following with your small group you will build lasting relationships.
Be Authentic and share true feelings
Encourage each other
Support each other
Admit our weaknesses
Respect our differences
Do not gossip
and Make the group a priority.

Day 19 "Cultivating Community"

Point to ponder: Community requires commitment.

Verse to remember: "We understand what love is when we realize that Christ gave his life for us.  That means we must give our lives for other believers." 1 John 3:16

Question to consider: How can I help cultivate today the characteristics of real community in my small group and my church?

Day 18 "Experiencing Life Together"

Sharing life together is an essential part of our lives.  Chapter 18 is about fellowship through a small group.  I can speak from experience on this subject.  I joined the men's fuel group at Hope to expand my knowledge of the Bible. I had never attended a Bible study before and had no idea what to think.  The study was on the book of Ephesians and was all about being a man.  Being a man in you life, to your family, in you church, and a father to your children.  The group started every week with a 30-45 large group meeting covering several verses of the chapter.  Then we would break into small groups to discuss in more detail.  It was comforting to see men open up about there lives and let loose the weights they had bottled up inside.  At the end of the study a small group of us continued meeting to go through the book Discipleship Essentials.  This is about being a better disciple or learning to be a disciple.  Or at least that is the intent.  This group as helped me form a strong bond with 6 men.  This is now the thing I look forward to the most all week.  I am now held to a level of accountability with out judgement when I fall short.  This has given me the strength to realize where I fall short and think about how I can do better.  The question to consider this week is" What one step can i take today to connect with another believer at a more genuine , heart to heart level."  I think if we just take the time to ask someone how they are doing and actually listen to them, we would open a whole new world we have never seen.

Day 18 "Experiencing Life Together"

Point to ponder: I need others in my life.

Verse to remember: "Share each other's troubles and problems, and in this way obey the laws of Christ."

Questions to consider: What one step can I take today to connect with another believer at a more genuine, heart-to-heart level?

Day 17 "A Place to Belong"

A place to belong.  Where do I belong, where do I fit in?  This is something I have asked all my life.  I have never felt like I fit in with any one group.  Maybe it is because we moved so much and the groups changed so much.  I have always dealt with a low self esteem from my struggle with being over weight.  I always felt I cherished my friend more than they cherished me.  I felt like I was easily replaced.  This i am sure leads to my struggle to find and keep close friends for long periods of time.  Since I have joined Hope and gave my life to Christ I have felt like it is easier to build relationships with people.  I enjoy meeting people at our church and growing our friendships.  I have found a huge connection with my men's ID group.  This chapter was about being involved in a church.  And not just attending a church but becoming part of the church.  You always get out of something what you put into it.  It is most important to find a church family and wrap yourself up in it.  Get involved, make it your family.  I have done this with my church and I would not give it back for anything.