Prayer + Service

GNW CARING CIRCLE: MAY 16, 2012 

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 22:36-39

TAKE-HOME THOUGHT:

Let us not forget that to complete the image of the cross, we need to have both the VERTICAL dimension (me and God) and the HORIZONTAL dimension (me and others) present in our lives. And one way of actualizing this is through PRAYER (for vertical) and SERVICE (for horizontal).

PRAYER TOOLS:

Remember, it's important to have a balance between quiet time and any outward form of expressing praise such as singing or dancing.  Here are some songs that I hope will help you strike that balance.  

FOR SILENT PRAYER / MEDITATION (CONTEMPLATIVE)

FOR PRAISE & WORSHIP (CHARISMATIC)

LIFTING OUR HANDS:

There are a number of different reasons why we lift up our hands while praying.  

Just like in real life, we raise up our arms/hands when...

1) We are IN AWE of something (like how beautiful nature is!)

2) We are ASKING for something (like a baby asks a Father to pick him/her up!)

3) We are OFFERING something  

4) We are SUPER HAPPY!!! :-)

... so it is when we PRAY.  We raise are hands when we WORSHIP & THANK our awesome God; present our PETITIONS to Him; OFFER to Him all that we have and all that we are; and because we are simply OVERJOYED by His love that fills us!!! :-)

Fill in the Blanks

GNW CARING CIRCLE: MAY 9, 2012 

GOSPEL: JOHN 15:9-17 (Gospel for Sunday, May 13)

Jesus said to his disciples:

"As the Father loves me, so I also love you.

Remain in my love.

If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,

just as I have kept my Father's commandments

and remain in his love."

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you

and your joy might be complete.

This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.

No one has greater love than this,

to lay down one's life for one's friends.

You are my friends if you do what I command you.

I no longer call you slaves,

because a slave does not know what his master is doing.

I have called you friends,

because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.

It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you

and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,

so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.

This I command you: love one another."

* * * * *

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Do we really know what it takes to "love" (or be loving)?

* * * * *

AN EXERCISE:

Using the attributes listed in 1 Cor 13:4-8, let us replace the word "love" with our own names, to help us remember what it really means to LOVE.

__________________ is patient.

__________________ is kind.

__________________ is not jealous.

__________________ does not boast.

__________________ is not proud.

__________________ is not rude.

__________________ does not seek his/her own interests.

__________________ is not quick-tempered.

__________________ does not keep a record of wrongs.

__________________ does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

__________________ bears all things.

__________________ believes all things.

__________________ hopes all things.

__________________ endures all things.

__________________ never fails.

Remain.

GNW CARING CIRCLE: MAY 2, 2012 

GOSPEL: JOHN 15:1-8 (Gospel for Sunday, May 6)

Jesus said to his disciples:

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.

He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,

and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.

You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.

Remain in me, as I remain in you.

Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own

unless it remains on the vine,

so neither can you unless you remain in me.

I am the vine, you are the branches.

Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,

because without me you can do nothing.

Anyone who does not remain in me

will be thrown out like a branch and wither;

people will gather them and throw them into a fire

and they will be burned.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you,

ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.

By this is my Father glorified,

that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."

 

* * * * *

TAKE-HOME THOUGHT:

The word "REMAIN" comes out 8 times in the Gospel.  

God can't be any clearer in telling us how IMPORTANT it is 

to always remain in Him --

to 'stick' to or 'cling' on to Him --

in order that we may bear the best fruit in our lives!

* * * * *

OUR GOAL:

To always stay CONNECTED to the One, True Vine -- 

Jesus Christ -- 

without whom, we are NOTHING.