Sunday, September 13, 2009

Prayer is faith turned toward God.

So, I think I have finally found a church home: Redeemer Fellowship, KC. (redeemerkc.org - check it out)
I think I should share with you guys some things from the amazing sermon this morning and maybe you'll understand why I'm choosing this place.

The text was from Mark 9:14-29; i'll paraphrase the story...

After Jesus comes down from the Mount of Transfiguration with his "A Team" disciples, Peter, James, & John, the run into quite the little situation at the bottom of the most amazing mountaintop experience of all time. A crowd is gathered around and there is a commotion going on around a man who has brought his heard of Jesus' miracles who has brought his demon-possessed son to be healed. Upon arrival, Jesus is not there, and to top it off, three of the most prominent disciples are missing in action too! So the rest of the disciples attempt to heal the boy and are unsuccessful. Jesus comes down, hears the man's desire, rebukes his "faithless" disciples, shows compassion toward the man, and casts out the crazy demon, that has attempted many times to kill his host, out of his son. Later, the disciples ask Jesus, "Why couldn't we do that?" Jesus answers them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer."

Now, normally the intensity of the demon, the desperation of the father, or the father's statement, "Lord I believe, help my unbelief," are what catch my eye in this passage. But this morning i've learned to see it with a little different eyes. This morning the pride of the disciples is what cut me right to the soul, because way too often, I can be so similar to them. So, the disciples had already been commissioned to heal and cast out demons... so why the heck couldn't they do it themselves? I think Jesus answers that question in the last verse of this passage... "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer." The disciples must have thought, "Oh, we've got this one. We've seen Jesus do it a hundred times. All we have to do is stand facing this way, and speak in this tone, and lay our hands on the boy in this way... and surely that demon will come out. We have what we need to do this. We've got it covered." How prideful to think they could do it on their own! How ridiculous to think that they didn't need help!

But this is just what they did... and this is what I am guilty of far too often.
Prayer is admitting that WE DON'T HAVE WHAT WE NEED. Prayer is faith turned toward God, not toward ourselves. We are saved not by the strength of our faith, but by the object of our faith... JESUS. Any strength that we have or any word or work that comes out of our mortal bodies is only through Him. How sinful and ridiculous for us to think any other way.

Father, break my pride. Humble my confidence in myself. Strengthen my confidence in you.
Amen.

Shannon

Saturday, September 12, 2009

once upon a time...

once upon a time....
i made a blog,
and went for almost a year without ever updating it.
isn't that a sad story?

well... i don't really know how in the world to fill ya'll in on everything that has happened throughout this crazy year other than to say it has been an adventure and God has been faithful. my first year as a house director passed by so quickly and now i'm beginning year number two. i am hopeful and excited about what the lord has in store this year here at doulos. our new leadtimer's are jumping in and getting their feet wet and they are doing an amazing job. our house director team is down to three, myself being the only female. this is a little overwhelming but the lord is so good at reminding me of his sovereignty when i doubt his plan.

i want to keep this thing more up to date this year. the lord is teaching me so much here that not sharing it would be pretty ridiculous. please keep checking back and i hope that somehow you are encouraging through my ramblings.

in him,
shannon