I was in the midst of an affair and the sermon made me aware today that it has to stop ... no excuses. Please pray for me for the strength to get through this.
One week later...
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your powerful sermon last week and for your prayers. I wrote last week about troubles in my marriage. I have never felt so close to God in my life, and I haven't felt this strong in my faith ... ever. Giving up my disobedience and sin of adultery has given me a new life. In one week, I went from depression to joy and am grateful for my new life. I can breathe again. Thank you for helping me see God through new eyes. I know my marriage will have its ups and downs, but God is Whom I need to look for help, not other men. Praise God for His forgiveness. I feel humbled and unworthy of such love.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
A man has accepted Jesus into his heart
I wanted to say thanks for a variety of things that I have only been recently aware of.
First, and most importantly, is my faith. My family’s life is changed. My wife and I often wonder what brought us back to Cleveland from Florida. Of course the weather is a strong consideration, but we know now after all these years it was CVC. I, for one, have been searching for my faith for years, not knowing what I was meant to do, but after attending CVC, it was clear: open my heart and mind to Jesus. Maybe I was just deaf for all these years, but the preaching every weekend seems to talk right to me, which has driven me to Jesus. It's hard to put into words, but without CVC… I wouldn't have accepted Jesus into my heart.
Secondly is my ability to "start to understand" my role as a man and a father. I attend the Men’s Fraternity (when I'm not in LA or somewhere else). My family has never been closer, never been so content and never been so strong of faith. Thank you. Thanks again from me and my family. We are a changed crew.
First, and most importantly, is my faith. My family’s life is changed. My wife and I often wonder what brought us back to Cleveland from Florida. Of course the weather is a strong consideration, but we know now after all these years it was CVC. I, for one, have been searching for my faith for years, not knowing what I was meant to do, but after attending CVC, it was clear: open my heart and mind to Jesus. Maybe I was just deaf for all these years, but the preaching every weekend seems to talk right to me, which has driven me to Jesus. It's hard to put into words, but without CVC… I wouldn't have accepted Jesus into my heart.
Secondly is my ability to "start to understand" my role as a man and a father. I attend the Men’s Fraternity (when I'm not in LA or somewhere else). My family has never been closer, never been so content and never been so strong of faith. Thank you. Thanks again from me and my family. We are a changed crew.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Woman raises bar in prayer life and reading
I am changing my prayer life by increasing its time and intensity.
I can feel God working on me more, and sense a strong feeling of peace when I am in prayer with Him.
I am starting to read some unfinished books at least one-half hour every night as well. When I have completed these three books, I have several others I have purchased and not read.
I am excited about growing closer to our Lord. I feel that prayer and Bible intake are the best ways.
Thank you for challenging us. I love You, Lord, and want to honor and glorify Your precious name.
I can feel God working on me more, and sense a strong feeling of peace when I am in prayer with Him.
I am starting to read some unfinished books at least one-half hour every night as well. When I have completed these three books, I have several others I have purchased and not read.
I am excited about growing closer to our Lord. I feel that prayer and Bible intake are the best ways.
Thank you for challenging us. I love You, Lord, and want to honor and glorify Your precious name.
Man raises bar in Scripture memorization and giving
A few ways I have been raising the bar in my life are:
- I've begun to be more disciplined and intentional in Scripture intake. I am setting up a plan each week, picking a few verses from my reading, writing them on a note card, and meditating on them throughout the day. I am also journaling my thoughts in the evenings.
- I've also become more intentional in Scripture memorization by trying to memorize passages word-for-word, and remembering the exact reference instead of saying: "I think it was somewhere in Isaiah, or maybe one of the Psalms". I'm also trying to memorize entire thought processes and ideas rather than extracting a verse here and there from a book and risking memorizing something out of context. One goal of mine is to memorize the entire book of Ephesians this year. I already have most of chapters five and six memorized (I am working backwards.)
- I am increasing my giving to give sacrificially, and joyfully: above and beyond a tithe. I am also testing God to bless me, and not limiting blessings to providing me with more money to compensate for the increase in giving, as Malachi 3:10 tells us.
- I've begun to be more disciplined and intentional in Scripture intake. I am setting up a plan each week, picking a few verses from my reading, writing them on a note card, and meditating on them throughout the day. I am also journaling my thoughts in the evenings.
- I've also become more intentional in Scripture memorization by trying to memorize passages word-for-word, and remembering the exact reference instead of saying: "I think it was somewhere in Isaiah, or maybe one of the Psalms". I'm also trying to memorize entire thought processes and ideas rather than extracting a verse here and there from a book and risking memorizing something out of context. One goal of mine is to memorize the entire book of Ephesians this year. I already have most of chapters five and six memorized (I am working backwards.)
- I am increasing my giving to give sacrificially, and joyfully: above and beyond a tithe. I am also testing God to bless me, and not limiting blessings to providing me with more money to compensate for the increase in giving, as Malachi 3:10 tells us.
Man raises the bar in prayer, his time, and tithing
God has put several things on my heart this week regarding the Raise the Bar challenges…
· Don’t just tell someone that “I will pray for them” and then walk away. I have been taking the time to pray, with both believers and non-believers immediately when I hear a need. I ask them if we can pray together. It has provided moments of witnessing, and has made some friendships a little deeper.
· Raise the bar in prayer every day. I am being more disciplined to write down who I need to pray for. I’m also taking several quiet moments at work and finding time to pray throughout the day.
· Go beyond my tithe. God has challenged me to go even more beyond my tithe and give, especially to those who are in poor or in need. I am in prayer on how God wants me to do that and I think He has answered my prayers.
Praise God!
· Don’t just tell someone that “I will pray for them” and then walk away. I have been taking the time to pray, with both believers and non-believers immediately when I hear a need. I ask them if we can pray together. It has provided moments of witnessing, and has made some friendships a little deeper.
· Raise the bar in prayer every day. I am being more disciplined to write down who I need to pray for. I’m also taking several quiet moments at work and finding time to pray throughout the day.
· Go beyond my tithe. God has challenged me to go even more beyond my tithe and give, especially to those who are in poor or in need. I am in prayer on how God wants me to do that and I think He has answered my prayers.
Praise God!
Woman sees husband receive Christ
I would just like to say that this past month has been so rewarding for me in many ways, not only for myself but my husband prayed to receive Christ. I can’t tell you how long I have been praying for that.
I was just about to give up when we started the "Raise The Bar" series, and through that series not only did I not give up, but I read my Bible more and prayed more often. It was during this series that I read the book "23 Minutes in Hell," and that only made me more sure that I needed to read my Bible more and pray more.
I have read my Bible some times as many as three times a day. I have prayed not only at home, but in the car and at work. When someone tells me they have some kind of trouble, or someone is ill, I pray right there. I would never have done that before this series ... so many thanks again.
I was just about to give up when we started the "Raise The Bar" series, and through that series not only did I not give up, but I read my Bible more and prayed more often. It was during this series that I read the book "23 Minutes in Hell," and that only made me more sure that I needed to read my Bible more and pray more.
I have read my Bible some times as many as three times a day. I have prayed not only at home, but in the car and at work. When someone tells me they have some kind of trouble, or someone is ill, I pray right there. I would never have done that before this series ... so many thanks again.
Man raises the bar in tithing
In August 2005, I was up to my eyeballs in debt. I hit rock bottom financially speaking.
Scared, depressed, and worried that I would lose my house, God brought me to my knees. I cried out to him begging , pleading, and praying for him to help me. I felt that I learned my lesson and was hoping that I wouldn't have to lose my house in this process. I told him that I would do all the hard work, including selling things on eBay and working a second job delivering pizzas. I just asked that He would bless me by bringing buyers to me on eBay, and by my receiving good tips with the second job.
I also made a promise to Him. I promised once I was debt free, I would start to tithe my income. I wanted to tithe anyway, but couldn't see how it was possible and in my mind it seemed logical to put that extra money towards paying down my debt.
Well, I broke my promise to God. I actually starting tithing early. This week, in the spirit of "Raising the Bar," I'm going to tithe my income for the first time in my life, even though I won't be debt-free until April or May.
Scared, depressed, and worried that I would lose my house, God brought me to my knees. I cried out to him begging , pleading, and praying for him to help me. I felt that I learned my lesson and was hoping that I wouldn't have to lose my house in this process. I told him that I would do all the hard work, including selling things on eBay and working a second job delivering pizzas. I just asked that He would bless me by bringing buyers to me on eBay, and by my receiving good tips with the second job.
I also made a promise to Him. I promised once I was debt free, I would start to tithe my income. I wanted to tithe anyway, but couldn't see how it was possible and in my mind it seemed logical to put that extra money towards paying down my debt.
Well, I broke my promise to God. I actually starting tithing early. This week, in the spirit of "Raising the Bar," I'm going to tithe my income for the first time in my life, even though I won't be debt-free until April or May.
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