Point of Grace Online Worship - November 21, 2021
Point of Grace Worship 11.21.21 Sermon Notes – “Soul Recovery – Immerse, Untangle, Give Thanks”
Immerse – “My soul needs so much more of God than I think it does!” I need to stay immersed in God’s Presence, Love, Goodness, Truth, Story, Words, Spirit, Grace, Creation, Power ………
Untangle – “My soul needs a “change of mind toward God” (repent) much more than I think it does.” I need practice untangling from my “it’s up to me” mindset toward a “turn to God agreeing with Him” mindset!
Give Thanks – “My soul needs me to have a “lifestyle of gratitude” much more than I think it does. I need a lifestyle of giving thanks so I actually live like life is “grace” making way for the joy my soul needs.
Mark 6 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. Mark 14 22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 “This is my blood of the[c] covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 1 Thessalonians 5 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Colossians 3 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Eucharisteo – “give thanks” … Jesus revealed that life lived to the full is a life full of eucharisteo.
Eucharisteo is the way of living with the living God because within Eucharisteo is charis (grace) and within charis is chara (joy)!
Joy is the realist reality, the fullest life, and joy is always given, never grasped. God gives gifts and I give thanks and I unwrap the gift given: joy! Ann Voskamp – one thousand gifts
A Eucharisteo lifestyle!
“If you want to make it real write it down.” Somebody Smart
Philippians 4 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!... 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Prayer of the Week (Note: This week’s prayer is designed with some pauses built in so when there is a pause don’t let it surprise you.)
Father, Son, Holy Spirit, I praise and thank you for the opportunity to be in your gracious presence in this moment. Jesus, restore me in You and renew me in you. Fill me afresh Holy Spirit, saturate me in Your Love, saturate me in your Life. Untangle me from my anxious thoughts, untangle me Jesus, untangle me. I am Yours and You are mine. I immerse now in my identity as a child of my heavenly Father identity which you gave me in my baptism.
Father in heaven I thank and praise you specifically for your creation that surrounds me. Thank you for the natural world you have given me to live in and for the miracle of physical life that I experience in my body every moment. Jesus, help me thank you now! (Take a 20 second pause to give thanks, out loud if possible, for God’s creation and all His provision for your physical life as you experience it today.) Father, I praise and thank you for your love for me and the salvation you have given me through Your life, death and resurrection. I get to have life now and life eternal because of the gracious gift of Your life for me. Jesus help me give thanks for You now!
(Take a 20 second pause to give thanks, out loud if possible, for God’s gift of love and grace to you in Jesus as you experience it today.)
Father, I praise and thank you for people and relationships you have given me to experience. Thank you for gifting me with people who love me and care about me. Thank you for people, even if I do not know them personally, who You use to bring me blessing, provision and grace. Jesus help me thank you for people now!
(Take a 20 second pause to give thanks, out loud if possible, for God’s gift of people and relationships in your life. Notice the unique people and relationships God brings to mind on this particular day.)
Fill me afresh Holy Spirit so that I might live this day with a Spirit of gratitude in my heart and words of thanks on my lips. (Allow your heart to continue to give continued thanks as you are inspired concluding this prayer with your own “Amen” when you are finished.)
Resources for this Week
Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.
Mon – Luke 17:11-18 Tue – Psalm 136:1-9,23-26 Wed – Ephesians 5:15-20 Thu – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Fri – Colossians 3:15-17 Sat - Psalm 116:1-7, 17-19
Meditation Hints:
Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”
Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.
Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.
Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.
Point of Grace Online Worship - November 14, 2021
Point of Grace Worship 11.14.21 Sermon Notes – “Soul Recovery – Immerse and Untangle 2”
Hebrews 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
Soul Recovery – Immerse – “My soul needs so much more of God than I think it does!” I need to stay immersed in God’s Presence, Love, Goodness, Truth, Story, Words, Spirit, Grace, Creation, Power ………
Soul Recovery – Untangle – “My soul needs more ‘change of mind toward God’ than I think it does.” I need practice untangling from my “it’s up to me” mindset toward a “agree with God and turn to Him” mindset!
Mark 1 4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom (rule and reign) of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
“Repent” – change of thinking - untangle from default thinking about God, self and how life works.
“Believe the good news” – trust, have faith, immerse in the good news that God is present and reigning in Jesus.
Untangling Tools: Practical ways to move from “it’s up to me” default thinking to “agree with God and turn toward Him” untangled thinking? (Important note: Anytime we invite Jesus to reign and rule in a situation untangling begins.)
- Repentance Pause - “Jesus, I pause to check my thinking and turn towards You. I ask you to come into this situation and reign.”
- Allow for Transition
- Benevolent Detachment - “Jesus, I give everyone and everything to You!”
- Protection from the warfare of others! “In Jesus name and by His authority I bring the rule and reign of Jesus between me and all people and their warfare so that only those things of the love of God and Spirit of God pass through to me!”
- Sabbath – Taking time to “be” not “do”! Stop – Rest – Delight – Contemplate
“On Sabbath I embrace my limits. God is God. He is indispensable. I am His creature. The world continues working fine when I stop.” Pete Scazzero - Emotionally Healthy Spirituality
Prayer of the Week (Note: This week’s prayer is designed with 15 second pauses built in so when there is a pause don’t let it surprise you. The idea is that after each prayer section we take a short time to personally engage more fully what was just prayed.)
Father, Son, Holy Spirit, I praise and thank You for the opportunity to be in Your gracious presence in this moment. Jesus, restore me in You and renew me in You. Fill me afresh Holy Spirit, saturate me in Your Love, saturate me in Your Life. Untangle me from my anxious thoughts, untangle me Jesus, untangle me. I am Yours and You are mine. Jesus, I pause now to check my thinking and turn my mind towards You. Heal my thinking, help me notice the tangles in my mind and soul and to invite You in to every situation, concern and anxiety that occupies me today. Jesus help me do this now. (15 second pause) Jesus, I give everyone and everything to You. I give everyone and everything to You. You are God… I am not. I give everyone and everything to You. Jesus help me do this now. (15 second pause)
Jesus, I ask for Your protection from the evil one over my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind and will. I now take my place in Your authority and bring the rule, reign and work of Jesus between me and all people and their warfare that only the things of the love of God and Spirit of God pass through to me. Jesus help me do this now. (15 second pause)
Jesus, I rest in the security of Your love and presence. Thank You for loving me. Help me rest in the comfort of Your invitation to me to stop striving and simply come to You. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Jesus, help me be at rest with You now. (15 second pause)
Amen
Resources for this Week
Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.
Mon – Psalm 51:1-12 Tue – Mark 1:9-15 Wed – Psalm 139:1-6,13-15,23-24 Thu – Matthew 11:25-30 Fri – Nehemiah 1:1-11 Sat - 1 Peter 5:5-10 Meditation Hints:
Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”
Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.
Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.
Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved
Point of Grace Online Worship - November 7, 2021
Point of Grace Worship 11.7.21 Sermon Notes – “Soul Recovery – Immerse and Untangle”
Hebrews 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Souls thrive when immersed in God and untangled from all that hinders and entangles.
Soul Recovery 101 – Immerse – “My soul needs so much more of God than I think it does!”
Psalm 42 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 6 My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. 8 By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.
“My soul needs so much more of God than I think it does!”
I need to stay immersed in God’s Presence, Love, Goodness, Truth, Story, Words, Spirit, Grace, Creation, Power ………
When my soul needs a __________ and I bring it a _________ something needs to change!
Immersion takes “time and effort” ……... “Untangle? ”
“Immersion in His Presence”: Word, Prayer, Worship, Sacraments, Sabbath, Creation ……!
Some Practical Immersion Rhythms I Belong Daily – Word and Prayer, (Music) Weekly Worship (Sabbath) Get Outside Pause App Simple Service in His Name
A Beautiful Story of a Soul Immersed and Untangled Mark 14
Prayer of the Week (Note: This week’s prayer is designed differently. After a brief prayer introduction, we will pray a portion of Psalm 95 followed by 30ish seconds of silence for us to “immerse” in the words just prayed. We will do this three times.)
Father, Son, Holy Spirit, I praise and thank You for the opportunity to be in Your gracious presence in this moment. Jesus, restore me in You and renew me in You. Fill me afresh Holy Spirit, saturate me in Your Love, saturate me in Your Life. Untangle me from my anxious thoughts, untangle me Jesus, untangle me. I am Yours and You are mine. 1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. (pause) 3 For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. (pause) 6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; 7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. (pause) Amen
Resources for this Week Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.
Mon – Psalm 42:1-8 Tue – Ephesians 3:16-21 Wed – Hebrews 12:1-3 Thu – Colossians 1:15-23 Fri – Revelation 20:6-10 Sat - Psalm 149:1-5
Meditation Hints:
Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”
Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.
Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.
Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved