A Life Time What is God up to RIGHT NOW? Good question. Just as important, however, is this: what is God is up to over your LIFETIME? Discussion / Reflection: 1| What do you want to hold on to from Psalm 146? 2| How (very practically) will you continue to remind your soul to praise God? Another way to put it: how can you continue to nurture your life with God? 3| What has not been accomplished in your life or in the world that you are being nudged to continue to pray for?
What God is Doing What is God doing? Here’s a clear, concise list of 7 things. How is God doing these things? That requires some reflection and discussion. Discussion / Reflection: 1| Which of these 7 things needs to happen in your life? 2| Is God sending people into your life as an answer to prayer? 3| Are you being nudged into someone else’s life to be an answer to prayer?
Diagnoses and Perscriptions We all have problems and we are all looking for solutions. A couple of keys to life: accurately diagnosing problems and employing effective solutions. Are you being duped by false diagnoses and hapless placebos? An age-old problem for we humans... Discussion / Reflection: 1) What problems in your life / in the world might you have misdiagnosed? 2) Are there solutions you are employing/espousing that are not actually working? 3) How is our disconnection from God we are created to be connected to creating problems in your life / in our world?
Put Not Here’s an old theme with a new twist. Who or what are you putting too much hope in? Hollywood has made an art out of fooling us. Wake up. http://also...it’s @amytuggs and my anniversary! So this morning is marriage themed! Discussion / Reflection: 1) Who are your “princes?” 2) As specifically as possible, what issue(s) are you looking for someone or something to solve? Put another way, what can only God do that you are expecting _____ to do? 3) What would it look like to rely more on God, with this specific issue?
Soul’s Reminder There are things I have to remind myself to remember. I shouldn’t need a reminder to remember, but I do. My incessant insistence in believing that _____ can satisfy is a lie that has to be continuously curbed in my life. Here’s a reminder I needed this morning from Psalms 146 and 62.
A Conviction and an Update Here’s a update on the bible study and a core conviction I’ve carried for 8 years! Even if you’re not caught up on the bible study, jump ahead to this one. Reflection / Discussion: 1| What are some of the environments God has used to impact your life? 2| Who can you invite to join you in bible study the next 4 weeks? 3| What is God teaching you right now?
The Response I want to be more like the person that wrote this psalm. Aware of and grateful for God’s work. Here are 2 keys to getting there. Discussion/ Reflection: 1| What does it look like to hold fast to God in love? 2| How are you calling on God’s name? 3| Most important: how do you see God holding to you and calling your name?
Satan’s Quote Do you know who quotes Psalm 91? Satan. For real. He quotes it to Jesus, actually. If Psalm 91 strikes you as too much rainbows and butterflies (it does me), you need to hear Jesus’ response to Satan’s quote. Discussion / Reflection 1| How has God saved you from evil overcoming/befalling you? 2| Satan twists Psalm 91 and uses two lines to tempt Jesus. How could the idea that nothing bad will happen to people that trust God damage your faith? 3| Do you believe that because of the cross all evil is overcome? How does that change how you live now?
Comfort and Concern Psalm 91 comforts and concerns me. Some of these words elicit strong, positive feelings. Some leave me troubled. Here’s more about living in God’s shade. Discussion / Reflection: 1| How do you find comfort in these words? 2| What concerns you? 3| How do you think Jesus viewers this Psalm?
The Shade I am growing in my understanding of Psalm 91 as I prep this week. The image of the shade of God is one I haven’t reflected on before and is making a big impact on me. I think this is a timely Psalm! Discussion / Reflection: 1| How is life stormy right now? 2| How do you know that God is “sheltering” you? 3| What might God be sheltering you from that you are not even aware of?
Praying Scripture Not sure how to pray or what to pray for? This will help. These are the three passages of scripture that I pray the most. Reflection / Discussion: 1| What impact has Psalm 90 and your reflection on it had this week? 2| Is there a passage of scripture you have or are going to turn into a prayer? 3| Where do you need wisdom or strength that comes from beyond yourself?
A Prayer A simple reminder this morning made the end of Psalm 90 so much more profound for me. 90.14 will stick with me, and here’s why... Discussion / Reflection 1| Have you ever prayed the words of scripture? 2| How did you see Psalm 90 differently when you prayed it? 3| How will today be different if you begin the day being satisfied by God’s steadfast love?
The Anger What does it mean that God gets angry and has wrath? This is a tough, but good passage, friends. Like yesterday, we have to live in light of a hard reality. Discussion / Reflection: 1| What do you think about when you think about God’s anger? 2| What are the marks of sin in your life? 3| What needs to be “made right” in your life?
Reality Many of us spend much of our lives living in fantasy worlds. Amy and I made a big decision a few years ago. We decided to start living in reality. Psalm 90 pushes us HARD towards reality today. Discussion / Reflection: 1| In what ways do you struggle to admit that you are a finite, limited human being? 2| How does facing the reality of your limits and our short lives make you feel? 3| Reflect on this: “Who am I to be loved by you?” Listen to the NEEDTOBREATHE song, Who Am I
A New Start Day one of a new study on the Psalms. Here’s some advice on how to engage. Discussion / Reflection: 1| What do you do when you don’t know what / how to pray? 2| Have any Psalms been helpful to you in the past? 3| What do you think will happen if you take this opportunity to slow down and reflect on short passages of scripture?
