WHERE HAS FAITH BROUGHT US?

O5 FEBRUARY 2010

A Small Group discussion

Question: Would the boy/girl you were be satisfied with man/woman that you are today?

If you answer yes, what else will you ask God?

If you answer no, what do you plan to do?

2Peter 1:5-8 "For this reason,make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control;and to self-control,perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure,they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

GROW - to grow is to become valuable regardless of age.

2Peter 3:17-18

Hebrews 5:14; 6:1

1Peter 2:2

Ephesians 4:14-15

CONTINUE TO LEARN - just when we think we know enough proves we really haven't learned.

2Timothy 2:15

Ephesians 5:15-17

"learn from the mistakes of others. you won't live long enough to make the mistakes yourself."

IMPROVE - make progress, not excuses.

1Timothy 4:11-15

James 1:22

"even a broken clock is right twice a day."

We may have all kinds of questions in life. Some of which may be answered, some may be not..but they can be decided.

Decide now. Find a passage in the Word that would strengthen your faith and could satisfy the man/woman that you are.

(contexts taken from the book "An Enemy Called Average" by John L. Mason; bible verses from the NIV)

a letter from a mom to the newlyweds

MARRIAGE

- is a partnership between two people who have nothing in hand but love drawn from and given by God. A bonding of two hearts made to be one and willing to take the very differences of each other. It is taking the initiative of doing what the other can not and would not do to make the union work. Being that, it has to be active; not a noun but a verb that must be felt,not just seen because more than what the body can show, the heart must give.

It does not question but gives answers. When disappointments from a partner set in, love must satisfy the longings of the heart by filling it with reasons to stay. Seeking a way out is not an option because there is supposed to be none.

It is never forced. It is freely given and freely received. Ever wonder how, in the first place, you've come to love a person unknown and unrelated to you?

It aims to change yourself to fit in with that of your partner, rather than insisting that your partner change to fit into yours and so satisfy your selfish whims and wishes.

It is a continuous effort to seek what is good for the other and in the process gain what's best for the both of you.

It is finding the best in the other, not the worst no matter how visible and unconsciously displayed.

It does not give up, but must always work to survive even the most trying and tiring times. It provides the strength that should stir the will and desire to endure; to have that firm resolve to keep you in solid foundation.

It longs to grow old together and live the rest of your lives in eternity and beyond...you will surely go through a lot of unexpected trials, and troubles of all kinds for it is through the worst that you will learn the best.