Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day! 

To all Dads: We’re being watched. Whether we realize it or not! Make your example something worthy to emulate...something to live up to for your kids! Happy Father's Day!

Check out this short video. Good food for thought!

Happy Father's Day!

rlk

Encouragement for Today

Here's some encouragement for today that I saw recently via an e-Mail and wanted to share it with you.

Be encouraged today by these words from The Word:

I believe...
I believe today will be a good day because God made it.
{Psalm 118:24}
I believe I have all I need to accomplish His purpose in my life.
{2 Peter 1:3}
I believe nothing is too difficult for me because nothing is impossible for the God who lives in me.
{Philippians 4:13}
I believe even the biggest challenges in my life can be redeemed for my good and His glory.
{Romans 8:28}
I believe I am loved just as I am and called to become even more like Jesus every day.
{Hebrews 10:14}
I believe that He isn't finished with me yet and is able to complete the good work begun in me.
{Philippians 1:6}
I believe I am an overcomer, more than a conqueror, and nothing will keep God from carrying out His plans!
{Romans 8:32-39}

Congregational Government

Hello,

Here's a good post on church government: Elder-led Vs. Congregational-Led. 

One is a Biblical Model as it's outlined in the Word (Elder-led) and the other is not but many churches have adopted this form of Government (Congregational-led). I wonder what our churches would look like, would they be healthier specifically in the US if Christian churches chose the Biblical Model?

It's not that the congregational input isn't important but there's God's way of doing things and then there's man's way of doing things. Elder-led governments still hear what the congregation is saying but God appointed elders to lead the church and we should pray for and trust our elders to do what God has called them to do which is to lead the church.

Read this below linked article and then come back here and share your thoughts on the topic.


Link: Congregational Government

In Him,

rlk

Simple Steps to Solid Scripture Study

It’s important to recognize that God gave us His Word and wants us to read it for ourselves. We don’t need to rely on others to read, study, or interpret it for us rather we need to dig in and learn it verse by verse and yes, we can also learn and should from others as well including our pastors.

When I write devotions or prepare a sermon I always start with prayer, then read and study The Word myself outlining the main structure, themes, background, etc. Then and only after doing so do I consult “outside helps” to drill into things like the meaning of key Hebrew and Greek words, or to simply get a another perspective on a section that I’m wrestling with. There are also times where I consult not just my resource library but other people or online sources to seek the answers or insight needed.

The goal of our study should be to show ourselves approved workmen for Him as we grow in the wisdom of knowledge of Him so it will enrich our own lives and the lives of others as we accurately divide or handle His Word. (see 2 Timothy 2:15)

As we continue with our focus on reading and studying the Word of God, I wanted to share another helpful article on simple steps that will help you grow in studying the scriptures. This article is from one of the currently best known expositors of The Word of God. This is one of the many methods that you may find useful as you seek to grow and mature in your relationship with Christ.

Have a wonderful day in Him! Please see the below.

Walk in His Steps,

rlk

________________________________________________

Simple Steps to Solid Scripture Study

John MacArthur, Grace to You 

From the moment I sensed the call of God into full-time ministry, the driving passion of my life has been simply to understand God's Word and then make it understandable to others. I have never aspired to be known as either an academic theologian or a distinguished clergyman. I simply want to know what the Word of God means and to make it known to others. All my pastoral energies-my preaching, shepherding, teaching, writing, and even visitation-are focused on that one goal.

It is my conviction that the Bible is not difficult for the believing heart to understand. And the more I understand, the more unshakable is my conviction that the Bible is the living, authoritative, inerrant Word of God. It has this remarkable effect on me: the more I study it, the more I hunger to know. So God's Word not only satisfies my appetite, but also arouses an even deeper hunger for more.

I want you to experience that hunger too. I want you to live in the joy of a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ that comes only through knowing the meaning of Scripture. Here's a simple process to get you started.

Step 1 - Reading
Begin by developing a plan on how you will approach reading through the Bible. Just by reading the Bible you become familiar with its themes, history, and contexts. There is simply no replacement for Bible reading.

Unlike most books, you will probably not read it straight through from cover to cover. There are many good Bible reading plans available (like The MacArthur Daily Bible). 

Here is what I recommend:

Read through the Old Testament at least once a year. As you read, note in the margins any truths you particularly want to remember, and write down separately anything you do not immediately understand. Often as you read you will find that many questions are answered by the text itself. The questions to which you cannot find answers become the starting points for more in-depth study using commentaries or other reference tools.

Follow a different plan for reading the New Testament. Read one book at a time repetitiously for a month or more. That will help you retain the New Testament so you will not always have to depend on a concordance to find things.

If you want to try that, begin with a short book, such as 1 John, and read it through in one sitting every day for thirty days. At the end of that time, you will know the book. Write on index cards the major theme of each chapter. By referring to the cards as you do your daily reading, you will begin to remember the content of each chapter. In fact, you will develop a perception of the book with your mind's eye.

When you come to longer books, divide them into short sections and read each section daily for thirty days. For example, the gospel of John contains twenty-one chapters. Divide it into three sections of seven chapters. At the end of ninety days, you will finish John. For variety, alternate short and long books, and in less than three years you will have finished the entire New Testament-and you will really know it!

Step 2 - Interpreting
In Acts 8:30, Philip asked the Ethiopian eunuch, “Do you understand what you are reading?” Or put another way, “What does the Bible mean by what it says?” It is not enough to read the text and jump directly to the application-you must first determine what it means, otherwise the application may be incorrect.

As you read Scripture, always keep one simple question in mind: “What does this mean?” To answer that question requires the use of the most basic principle of interpretation called the analogy of faith-interpret the Bible with the Bible.

Letting the Holy Spirit be your teacher (1 John 2:27), search the Scripture He has authored, using cross references, comparative passages, concordances, indexes, and other helps. For passages that remain unclear, consult your pastor or godly men who have written on the issues involved.

Step 3 - Evaluating
You have been reading and asking the question, “What does the Bible say?” Then you have been interpreting, asking the question, “What does the Bible mean?” Now it's time to consult others to ensure that you have the proper interpretation. Remember, the Bible will never contradict itself.

Read Bible introductions, commentaries, and background books that will enrich your thinking. As you evaluate, be a true seeker. Be one who accepts the truth of God's Word even though it may cause you to change what you have always believed, or alter your life pattern.

Step 4 - Applying
Jesus made this promise to those who carry their personal Bible study through to this point: “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:17).

Having read and interpreted the Bible, you should have a basic understanding of what the Bible says, and what it means by what it says. But studying the Bible does not stop there. The ultimate goal should be to let it speak to you and enable you to grow spiritually. That requires personal application.

You must let God's truth penetrate and change your life. Studying Scripture without allowing it to penetrate to the depths of your soul would be like preparing a banquet without eating it. The bottom-line question to ask is, “How do the divine truths and principles contained in any passage apply to me in terms of my attitude and actions?”

If there is a command to be obeyed, obey it. If there is a promise to be embraced, claim it. If there is a warning to be followed, heed it. This is the ultimate step: submit to Scripture and let it transform your life.

Step 5 - Correlating
This last stage connects the doctrine you have learned in a particular passage or book with divine truths and principles taught elsewhere in the Bible to form the big picture. Always keep in mind that the Bible is one book in sixty-six parts, so its truths and principles are taught over and over again in a variety of ways and circumstances. By correlating and cross-referencing, you will begin to build a sound doctrinal foundation on which to live.

Now, get to work! As you dig in to God's Word using those five simple steps, you'll be amazed at the rich treasure your study yields. My prayer is that the Lord will use this plan to revitalize your Bible study, increase your appetite for knowing and understanding His Word, and further conform you to the image of His beloved Son.

Adapted from “How to Study the Bible” in The MacArthur Study Bible. Copyright 1997, Grace to You. All rights reserved.

How to Have a Meaningful Quiet Time

Do you ever stop to consider the importance of reading and studying the Word of God?

I wanted to share another great article about How to Have a Meaningful Quiet Time.

This article provides some great pointers on how to do so.

Please read this article and consider implementing some of the pointers that are provided so you can grow deeper in the knowledge and wisdom of Him and grow to enjoy your quiet times all the more!

Blessings,

rlk

______________________________________

How to Have a Meaningful Quiet Time
By Adrian Rogers

“Oh how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 119:97

Christianity is not a legal relationship, it is a love relationship. Ten thousand “don'ts” will never make you one iota more like the Lord Jesus Christ. It is Jesus Himself Who makes you like Him. But you need to spend time with Him. I want to give you five factors for spending some quiet time with Him each day.

The Proper Period

You must find the right time. Your quiet time should last at least half an hour. But some time is better than no time, so if you can't start at thirty minutes, begin with ten. It should be your very best time. Don't give the Lord your leftovers. And don't try to find time - make time, and make it a priority. Also find time early in the day. Psalm 5:3 says, “… in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.” You don't take the trip and then read the map, do you? Spend time alone with God to begin your day.

The Proper Preparation

A quiet time is fellowship with a holy God. There are a few things you can do to be prepared for this time. First, be physically alert. Find a time when the cobwebs are out of your mind and you can think clearly. Second, be mentally aware. Be focused, and know He's there. Emotion doesn't really have all that much to do with it. And third, be morally pure and clean. Some people don't have a quiet time because they feel uncomfortable looking God in the face with sin in their lives. 

The Proper Place

Find a place where you can focus. Jesus said enter into your closet and pray (see Matthew 6:6). That simply means find a place of isolation where you can shut the door on the world and open the windows to heaven. Jesus sought out places where He could be alone, and so should you. 

The Proper Provisions

In order to have an effective quiet time, you need the right tools. Here are some tools I use:

• a readable Bible - Invest in one with plenty of room to jot notes in the margins.
• a prayer journal - Expect God to give you something and write it down. Also use it to record things you're praying about.
• a notepad - Write down your daily assignments.

The Proper Procedure

Finally, may I recommend some procedures to follow in your quiet time?

Get still and quiet. The Bible says in Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Focus your mind on Him. Calm down, relax, and recognize His presence. Take a deep breath and focus your thoughts on the Lord. 

Get into the Word of God. It's better to start by reading the Bible than it is to start in prayer. It is more important for you to hear from God, even than for God to hear from you. God already knows all about you, but you need to know a lot more about Him. 

Read the Bible for quality and not quantity. It's good to have a goal to read the Bible through in a year, or a similar goal; but that's not the purpose of your quiet time. Also, devotional books are wonderful. But again, this is not the place for them. This is the time when you simply read the Bible with an open mind.

Meditate. As you focus on the Word of God and meditate, let it permeate you. Ask:

• Is there a command to obey?
• Is there a promise to claim?
• Is there a sin to avoid?
• Is there a lesson to learn?
• Is there a new truth to carry with me?

Record what God has given you. Write down what God says to you and what He tells you to do. It doesn't have to be flowery. You're not writing it for publication or to impress other people. 

Now you're ready to pray. When you pray, pour out your soul. Be natural and honest with God. Tell Him how you feel. Pray out loud. It keeps your mind on track and enables you to stay focused.

Begin to share out of your quiet time. God did not make us to be reservoirs; He made us to be conduits. Tell others what is God is showing you.

Finally, obey what God tells you. Your spiritual train is running on two rails. One is revelation and the other is obedience. And if either rail stops, your train stops. Learn to obey the Word of God.

I pray these simple suggestions will help you have a daily quiet time in the presence of our loving, almighty, powerful God.

Make Appointments with God

One of the most fundamental things we should devote ourselves to each day is spending time with God through prayer and time in His Word.

With all the appointments we schedule and keep throughout “your” day, when was the last time you set and kept an appointment with God? 

Ouch, kind of convicting huh? None-the-less this is an important, a vital question to ask yourself.

Take a minute to read the below article then consider putting, not “penciling in”, an appointment with God on your daily calendar. Doesn’t He deserve your time?

Keep Walking In His Steps,

rlk
_____________________________________________________

Make Appointments with God
Whitney Hopler, Contributing Writer

Imagine that you've been invited to meet with the President of the United States in the Oval Office. You'd likely look forward to your appointment with great excitement. 

Now imagine that someone much more exciting - the God of the universe - wants to meet with you personally. This scenario is true; God really does want to meet with you, and He wants to do so every single day through a private quiet time together. 

Those appointments with God should be a source of great joy for you. But unfortunately, quiet times can sometimes seem too intimidating to schedule or maintain regularly. Here are some ways you can enjoy your appointments with God: 

•    Think about how much God loves you, and expect to be blessed as a result of spending time with Him. View your quiet times as cherished meetings with someone you love.
•    Realize that the more time you spend with God, the greater the intimacy you'll develop with Him. Although the idea of a daily quiet time might seem awkward at first because you might not know what to say or how to recognize God's voice, after a while, you'll look forward to the appointment because it will be like meeting with your best friend.
•    Set aside a consistent time every day to meet with God. Choose a time at which you're most alert and can block out distractions. Although many people choose first thing in the morning after waking up, the afternoon or evening can also work. Try starting out with a half-hour quiet time, and after you've developed greater intimacy with God, increase that time to an hour. It usually takes about five to ten minutes during the start of your quiet time to clear your mind enough to focus fully on God, so don't rush your quiet time. But don't schedule so much time that you become overwhelmed and lose your motivation to continue.
•    Designate a special place in which you can meet privately with God. The place can be either indoors or outdoors, such as a home office or a garden.
•    Relax! Don't feel pressured to perform certain rituals during your quiet time; there is no one "right" way to conduct a quiet time. Think about what activities best draw you into God's presence, then go with those.
•    Seek God Himself rather than anything He might give you. Know that God will meet you where you are and reveal much about Himself to you if you're sincerely seeking Him.
•    Consider following a Bible reading plan during your quiet times. Then ask God to help you apply the verses you read to your everyday life. Meditate on Scripture and memorize it so it will renew your mind.
•    Worship God in some way during your quiet times. Thank Him for His work in your life and praise Him for who He is. If you like, sing a worship chorus or hymn as part of your devotions.
•    Ask God to reveal hidden areas of sin in your life, and make a habit of confessing your sins to God during your quiet time. Then receive His forgiveness and grace to do better. Invite God to use your quiet times to powerfully transform you.
•    Pray for your own needs and desires, and intercede for others. Don't give up; God will answer you in the best way at the best time.
•    Pray against evil in your life and the lives of other people.
•    Ask for the Holy Spirit to fill you during your quiet time to give you fresh strength and grace each day.
•    Consider fasting occasionally to help you focus more on God.
•    Consider writing down your thoughts, feelings, and prayers in a journal during your quiet time to more clearly express them. Read through our ongoing journal to see how God has been working in your life. 

Do you schedule a daily quiet time with God? If so, how does it help you draw closer to Him? If not, what challenges do you face that discourage you from scheduling or consistently maintaining a daily quiet time?

Adapted from An Appointment with the King: Ideas for Jump-Starting Your Devotional Life, copyright 2002 by Joel Comiskey. Published by Chosen Books, a division of Baker Book House Co., Grand Rapids, Mich., www.bakerbooks.com, 1-800-877-2665.
Joel Comiskey, Ph.D., has served as a full-time missionary to Ecuador. He and his wife, Celyce, have three daughters. 

The End Is Near?

I posted this last Friday on the Eve of the day where some were promoting the idea that the rapture was coming and the end of the world. Meant to post it here in addition to the other place I posted it and know this is a bit after the fact but none-the-less it serves as a reminder of the sufficiency of Scripture - we need to take God at His Word and stop making stuff up or in this case making the Bible say something it does not say!

Here's what was posted for your edification:

There are people stating that the end of the world begins tomorrow and they base this on some mathematical calculation using the Bible.

Here's what the same Bible has to say about date setting, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." ~ Matthew 24:36

In sum, no man will know when the end will come or when The Lord will return - God only knows that!

I'm choosing to follow what the Bible really says and not what some person or group of people are stating.

Furthermore, What is more important is that we are ready for the real return and end times - are you ready for that?

-rlk

Failures

I've been thinking today about failures and wanted to share a brief thought on failures as so many believe that failure define who they are and I'd like to submit to you that they do not! I may add some scriptures to this post later but consider the following:

You still have to own up to your own failures as they usually come with consequences of one form or another but as Zig Ziglar said one time "Failure is an event, it is not a person." Your failures in word, action, etc. don't define you as a person so pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and press forward learning everything you can from your failures and don't let it define who you are!

Also, it took Thomas Edison 1,000 attempts before he created the first working light bulb. So is he remembered for the 1,000 "failures" or the end result which your home is full of today?

I think you see my point now and I hope you do because you're failures are temporal and they do not and should not define who you are to others or ultimately to yourself.

Lastly, God does not see you as a failure, rather, you are diamond in the rough, clay in the Potters Hands, a work in progress so, allow yourself some grace and seek out who you really are according to God's Holy Word.

God Bless You and may He help you keep your eyes fixed on Him!

In His Strong Love,

RLK

A New Approach

It's been a while since I've written on my blog partially because when I started this blog a few years ago I like to post more insightful or what I believe complete content like devotionals I've written or essays, sermon info, or sometimes what others have written. I also admittedly tend to lean toward "perfectionism" at times but this tends to limited me from sharing everything that is on my heart and mind. :-)

Today I've resolved to try and write more regularly whether simple thoughts, devotionals, essays, and more. Whatever I am processing, thinking on, or that I think will be of edification to whomever stops by for a visit - I will post going forward. This is a blog for me to share my thoughts anyway and to encourage you, right!? :-) 

So, going forward you'll see a variety of things come your way and I hope all will be encouraging, challenging, and thought provoking ranging from simple to complex. 

Thanks for visiting or following this blog and for praying for me as I step out to try to share more regularly from the heart of a shepherd.

God Bless,

RLK

Updates Synopsis of Experience

Hello,

I've recently updated my marketplace and ministry synopsis of experience and wanted to post links here for your reference. 

Ministry

Marketplace

I will be updating the template soon for my ministry synopsis but the content is still there.

Looking forward to post some new thought, devotions, etc soon. It's been a while but hope to have something up again soon. 

God Bless,

rlk

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Here's a great Article that separates fact from myth regarding who Patrick really was!

Apostle to the Irish

Have a great day!

rlk

The Lord's Prayer: Learning to Pray as Jesus Taught us How to Pray - Part 2

Here's part two of a 2 week mini sermon series I preached on The Lord's Prayer.

In order to properly hear the audio of this you'll want to put the music audio player on the right side of this blog (Scroll down and you'll see it where it say "Tunes" above it) on pause so it doesn't interfere with the audio of this message.

I pray that this message will encourage and challenge you to focus on your prayer life and recalibrate where you need to in order to rightly devote yourself to prayer.

In Christ,

rlk

“The Lord’s Prayer: Learning to Pray as Jesus Taught us to Pray” - Part 2 from Randolph Koch on Vimeo.

God Loves You!

Happy Valentine's Day!

May you never forget how much He loves you!

Besides 1 Corinthians 13, 1 John 4:7-21 has a lot to say about God's Love for you and how you and I should love one another.

Read the below scripture and may you have a blessed Valentine's taking time to lift up prayers of Love and Thanksgiving to the ONE who loved you first and gave the ultimate gift for you as well as those here on earth who love you!

In Christ,

rlk

1 John 4:7-21

⁷Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

⁸The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

⁹By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

¹⁰In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

¹¹Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

¹²No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.

¹³By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

¹⁴We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

¹⁵Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

¹⁶We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

¹⁷By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.

¹⁸There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

¹⁹We love, because He first loved us.

²⁰If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

²¹And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

The Lord's Prayer: Learning to Pray as Jesus Taught us How to Pray - Part 1

Here's part one of a 2 week mini sermon series I started last Sunday on The Lord's Prayer. In order to properly hear the audio of this you'll want to put the music audio player on the right side of this blog (Scroll down and you'll see it where it say "Tunes" above it) on pause so it doesn't interfere with the audio of this message.

I pray that this message will encourage and challenge you to focus on your prayer life and recalibrate where you need to in order to rightly devote yourself to prayer.

In Christ,

rlk

"The Lord's Prayer: Learning to Pray as Jesus Taught us to Pray" - Part 1 from Randolph Koch on Vimeo.

Year-End Support! It's not too late!

Hello!

It's almost the end of 2010 and if you would like to help our ministry and take advantage of a tax deduction on your 2010 taxes - It's not too late! Please see the following. Thanks for your consideration and Happy New Year!

You Can Mail Donations to:

Northwest Independent Church Extension (NICE)

P.O. BOX 64750

University Place, WA 98464-0750*

* Please indicate that your check is for The Koch Family

Donate Online: http://nicechurchplanters.org/site/donate.asp?sec_id=180001283

See the donation slot toward the bottom titled Missionary Support and then click “Pay Online” - Please indicate The Koch Family on the blank line on the PayPal form.

“Planet Me”

The Word:

Read: (and memorize) Philippians 2:3-4

Additional Reading: Philippians 2:1-13, Romans 12:5, Ephesians 2:10

“Planet Me” by Randolph Koch

Sometimes we get caught up living our lives in an unpleasing manner. Or we’ve possibly fallen into patterns or times of selfishness. We even come across as selfish without even knowing it sometimes. Everywhere we look, the news, TV, the newspaper, etc. we see evidence of lives motivated by selfish desires and actions.

True selfishness can turn into sin. Unless it’s dealt with quickly, it can be very destructive to those who choose to live this way. In past generations and in our current world cultures, people have chosen to live their lives completely for their own needs, wants, desires, and ambitions. This is such a shallow existence and sadly you may stop for a moment to realize that someone you know may come to mind. It’s as if they think they’re “a planet” and everything and everyone on the face of the earth revolves around them. Pray for them or if
it’s you, pray that the Lord will help you break free from these chains. As we look back in history we’ll find that many dictators and other figures were motivated by things like hatred, greed, envy, jealousy, etc., all of which seem to have selfishness at there root. Saul in his jealousy toward and at times rage against David, the nation of Israel as they chose to worship the Golden calf instead of the One true God they knew delivered them from Egypt, as well as Jacob as he stole his brother's birth right, all were driven by selfishness. Just to name a few. Don’t be like them! Learn from their mistakes and help others live right before the Lord our God. No matter what society, the world, or the evil one tries to dictate about
how we should live and operate in this life- let us never forget to place our lives and actions in His hands so we might live our lives pleasing to Him. We have to live our lives with others, including God in mind. The same applies, at work, home, church, or even while driving when someone cuts you off in traffic. Even when your co-worker or a leader at church treats you with disrespect. Choose to please God and “take the high road” if at all possible in every situation. This is tough at times but we need to be found trying to live a God pleasing life.

In addition to this, we need to remember that there’s absolutely nothing in scripture that says we’re in this life alone. There’s also nothing in the scriptures that says we’re supposed to be alone! We need each other! We need other people around us to help us along our path that God through our journey called life takes us on. We need to be actively thinking about the needs of others and seek opportunities to serve and bless others. With this have you ever noticed that there’s no “I” or “me, me, me” in the term family. Whether we like it or not we are a part of a family and this is true whether it’s your biological family, or church family, etc. (see Romans 12:5) We may not agree with each other at times but we sure do need each other.

We have to continually remind ourselves that we need God and others in our lives. We may not get our way all of the time and that’s just life. If we get ourselves into the habit of living our lives unselfishly and focus on serving God and others, our many and seemingly minuscule needs will all but fade away. The fact is, you become more satisfied in life when you seek to live your life this way. Wouldn’t it be great and pleasing to God if we were to be described as someone who lives their life to make a difference in other people’s lives - and doing so without any selfish ambition or motive. Just like Jesus Himself. This is possible if we’re serious and will seek the Holy Spirit’s help to live a God directed life instead of a self-directed life. We need to continually examine ourselves as the scripture states to see if there is anything unpleasing to Him. Let our motives be to completely live to glorify God. We’ve got to stop living our lives out of selfish ambition. We’ve got to get off of “planet me” and back to planet earth living with everyone else around us seeking serve them and the Lord
unselfishly.

Questions to Get Started With:

-Do you seek to live your life to please only you?
-Are up currently caught up in selfish desires and actions?
-Do you seek to live your life for God?
-Are there people you know who are living selfishly that you can actively pray for?
-What have you learned in the selected passages that you can apply in your life now and or help others do the same?
-Have you consulted God lately about your current goals, dreams, and aspirations? Or do you want to continue to be selfishly trying to direct your own life?

Idea: Take the main selected passage and write it or type it up and print it out on several cards. Then place it in several locations where you’ll be reminded how your life should be directed. (I.E. Your car, refrigerator, bathroom mirror, etc.)