Conversations at Caribou

I'm big on coffee shops. I love to take my laptop, my to-do list, and just work through all of the administrative stuff that comes with being a Director of Youth and Children's ministry. It's nice to get a jolt from coffee and plow through Council Reports, newsletter articles, blogs (can you guess where I was when I wrote this?) e-mails, and prepping for studies and other programs. I also find it a relaxing place to study. Reading at home or reading in the office, I often find myself getting distracted by the 1000 other things I could be doing. When I'm alone at a coffee shop those distractions disappear. But my favorite thing about coffee shops is the conversations. Each Wednesday afternoon we have a High School Bible study at Caribou on Bluemound Road. While our numbers may be small, we have wonderful conversation about a wide array of topics that come out of our study of the Bible. Yesterday we discussed Jesus' temptation, the beginning of his ministry, and the call of the first disciples. The highlight, though, was a young man that had overheard our conversation and came to us and told us how much he appreciated hearing us study the Bible. I've had other conversations at Caribou this week, meeting with a few members of Calvary to discuss life, ministry, the presence of God in our lives. It's a great place to  talk. And it's great to talk.

After our Bible study ended yesterday afternoon I lingered for a bit, taking in the atmosphere of a busy store. I counted around 14 conversations happening. It looked like some students were studying calculus. One table had a woman with four children discussing the Christian faith. In Japanese. There were animated conversations, reserved conversations, and even one guy talking to himself. He had a bluetooth headset on, so I assume he was talking on the phone. But who knows. And then I looked back at my Bible, and I thought to myself, 'if Jesus were here, what would we chat about?' That got me thinking: what would Jesus drink at a coffee shop? I assume he would either drink fair-trade coffee or a green tea, but that's just my take. I imagine our conversation to be warm, that Jesus would look at me, and greet me and ask me how I am. And he would mean it. I imagine being comfortable enough that I would be willing to pour my heart out. All of my struggles, my worries, my disappointments, as well as my joys and triumphs. After sitting in my chair for awhile, I wondered why I don't treat prayer like this. I know that it's so much easier to see a face and a response, but Jesus, regardless of whether I can see him or not, is there. He heard me as I sat alone and yet surrounded by so many conversations. He heard my struggles, and my joys. He heard the inmost thoughts of my hearts, and, as I packed up my stuff and left, I felt relieved. What a great reminder to know that, as the song says, 'what a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!'

A Daily Devotion

Creative Bible Study is a website that provides a variety of ways to approach God's Word. Here's a snippet of one of their devotions on Daniel.


A Look at Daniel

Daniel (remember- the guy in the lion's den?) He knew how to really listen to God throughout the day. Daniel 6:10 says: "But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God."

Three times a day, Daniel paused to pray and give thanks to God. He was focused on God and listening; that's what a Bible devotion is designed to help us do. They're short, concise and don't take long to read, but they give us a thought that will carry us through the day with our focus on God.

Now, in Daniel 9:2: "During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, was studying the writings of the prophets. I learned from the word of the LORD, as recorded by Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years."

What was he doing? Studying the writings of the prophets? That would be the Bible, right? Yes, Daniel also did some serious Bible study. We can't just live on snacks all the time. We need to take time to sit down and enjoy a full meal too.

God was able to do amazing things in the life of Daniel. Daniel was willing to seek God's face and take time to listen to His will. Daniel kept his focus on God.

Father, please help me to be like Daniel and seek your face daily. Help me to learn to hear your voice even above the "noise" of the busyness of life and see what's really important. Thank you that You walk with me each and every day and have rescued me from the lion's den.

Read one of Daniel's prayers - Daniel 9:3-19

By the way, did you realize you just read a Bible devotion? It didn't take but a minute - and the idea sticks with you all day.

Sarah

Looking for some Joy, the Good Book's Got It!!!

Christians are called to pray. How great is this? Our God wants us to have a conversation with Him, and often too! But... how many of us clench up when asked to pray out loud? Do your knuckles lock and your lips dry out? Is your prayer that someone else will step up and lead the prayer in your place?

Below is a list of joys found in the Bible. What is neat about these joys, is that they have a knack of flowing effortlessly into prayer. See how reading them becomes a prayer, and then start to add your own conversation with God in addition to these verses. I'm interested to hear your thoughts on prayer! Please comment on this blog!!! I look forward to hearing from you!
Sarah

Lord Jesus, keep me abiding in you so that your joy may be in me and that my joy may be full. (John 15:11)

Lord, turn my sorrow into joy. (John 16:20)

Lord, cause my heart to rejoice, and my joy let no one take from me. (John 16:22)

Lord, teach me to ask and receive, that my joy may be full. (John 16:24)

LORD, you are my strength and my song; you also have become my salvation. Therefore with joy let me draw water from the wells of salvation. Your joy is my strength. You are my joy and my strength. Let me know you in this way. (Is. 12:2,3; Neh. 8:10)

God, you are my exceeding joy! (Ps. 43:4)

Lord, make me to rejoice in you always! (Php. 4:4)

Father God, show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy, and at your right hand are pleasures for evermore. Let me experience everything in your presence and what is found at your right hand. (Ps. 16:11)

Father God, give me the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness! This is your gift and your will! (Is. 61:3)

LORD, your Word is to me the joy and the rejoicing of my heart! (Jer. 15:16)

Lord Jesus, you want your joy to be fulfilled in me! Show me how you can make it happen! Lead me into it. (John 17:3)

LORD, I ask you to fill me with all joy and peace in believing, that I may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Holy Spirit, produce your fruit of love and joy in me. (Gal. 5:22)

Lord, help me to count it all joy when I fall into various trials. (James 1:2)

Lord, when people revile and persecute me and say all kinds of evil against me falsely for Christ's sake, let me rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is my reward in heaven, for so they treated the prophets who were before me. (Matt. 5:12)

Lord, give me the joy to hear that my children walk in truth. (3 John 4)

Lord, I seek you, so let my heart rejoice! (1 Chr. 16:10)

Lord, make me love righteousness and hate wickedness; and anoint me with the oil of gladness more than my companions. (Ps. 45:7)