“If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:31

Bills, fears, expectations, loneliness, deadlines, diets, illness, depression, perfection, insecurities, illusions, responsibilities, to-do-lists, house repairs, meetings! Help! When will we be free?
1. What enslaves and burdens us?
2. How would this list have been different ten years ago?

Quick, rush to the book store to find the latest self-help book to repair your life. On second thought, follow the advice of Jesus and return to the Word to be comforted and challenged. There we not only encounter the love of the living God in Jesus Christ, but we also have a standard of his sacrificial life-giving love for our own lives. There we discover that freedom comes with being rooted in the amazing love and grace of God.
3. How can God’s Word free us?
4. Recall a time when God’s Word has helped to helped to put things in perspective?

Freedom does not mean doing whatever I want, whenever I want and with whomever I want. That’s an empty road. That is sin at work, seducing each of us to live only for me, myself and I. We dare not underestimate the power of sin to sabotage life, goals, relationships, and devotion to God. Sin is a powerful force. None of us can by our own efforts become freed. Jesus offers this reminder: Continue in my word = know the truth = be set free.
5. What does it mean to “continue in my word”?

The challenge of being a disciple is to align life with Jesus while the rages of sin rush through our spiritual system. It’s like keeping the tires of our car aligned while daily driving on roads filled with potholes. After a while, we scarcely remember there is another way. Remaining in the Word reminds us of the proper alignment with Jesus Christ.
6. Describe your life as if it was more firmly and rooted in God’s Word.
7. What if anything would change?
8. When do you feel firmly anchored in Christ and God’s Word?

Freedom is a gift from God for those willing to claim it. But here is the irony. We cannot claim the gift of freedom until we know we cannot save ourselves. That knowledge is the very place that we are found, forgiven and freed as a free gift of God in Jesus Christ (See Ephesians 2:4-9).
9. What is God freeing us to do or be?
10. How do you feel about being free?

Prayer
Christ, free us from the shackles which bind and loosen our hearts to love. Amen

Autumn Joy

Blessed are we who have an autumn swirling with colorful leaves of gold, red, yellow, orange and everything in between! I am reminded of confetti tossed in a gleeful New Year's celebration. This Monday we jump feet first into our new book ~ Holy Sweat ~ and learn more about remarkable things ordinary people can do when they let God use them. I am intrigued by the author's statment that "If we get our information from the biblical material, there is no doubt that the Christian life is a dancing, leaping, daring life."

New Book & Bible Study ~~

The "Monday Group" will soon begin reading and discussing "Holy Sweat" ~
The remarkable things ordinary people can do when they let God use them ~
by author Tim Hansel.

"The word Christian means different things to different people. To one
person it means a stiff, uptight, inflexible way of life, colorless and
unbending. To another it means a risky, surprise-filled venture, lived
tiptoe at the edge of expectation...If we get our information from the
biblical material, there is no doubt that the Christian life is a dancing,
leaping, daring life."

All are welcome to come for interesting discussion, strong coffee, and
caring friendship.

Call Donna Gordon 476-3058 or Ev Olsen 476-5453 or Pastor Stan for more
information.

God's mercy endureth forever ... Psalm 136:1

We are assured that God's mercy endures, continues, keeps on flowing ... forever. A never-ending river of mercy flows through our lives every second of every minute of every day! We ARE forgiven. We are HIS. Let us rejoice and be glad. Just think how happy God would be if we would cease our fretting and fussing... and just let the mercy and love of God wash over us. It's here, right now. Can you feel it? Cease striving. Be still. Just breathe. Now can you feel it?

Trust

Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Can you do this? Try to imagine what that would be like...

Could heaven be any better than this? Culinary delights prepared with love by the women of Ascension ... there is none better on earth! Come Sunday August 29 and see if you don't agree!