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Monday Quote: A Truly Good Book

Pat Hannon @phannon June 30, 2014 Leave a Comment

Monday Quote: A Truly Good Book

Thoreau-GoodBook

A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting.
-Henry David Thoreau

Filed Under: Books, Leadership, Spiritual Formation Tagged With: Monday Quotes

Monday Quote: God Weeps

Pat Hannon @phannon June 16, 2014 Leave a Comment

Monday Quote: God Weeps

Moltmann quote

God weeps with us so that we may one day laugh with him.
-Jürgen Moltmann

Filed Under: Spiritual Formation Tagged With: Monday Quotes

The Wind Was Against Them

Pat Hannon @phannon June 3, 2014 Leave a Comment

The Wind Was Against Them

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed. (Mark 6:45-51).

Only moments ago, Jesus fed 5,000 families with a few loves of bread and two fish. Now he sends his disciples ahead of him to the other side of the lake. The disciples cross in a boat, straining at the oars, because the wind was against them.

When the wind is at your back, your efforts are multiplied. A small effort yields a big result. You go farther, faster, with less effort. You reach your destination quicker than expected.

When the wind is with you, work is a joy. You have more energy than you need. You have margin in resources. You can push harder and rest more.

But when the wind is against you, you work harder than normal, with less results. You work hard to even maintain your location. You become stagnant, and can’t seem to get anywhere. You have no momentum.

When the wind is against you, you wear down quickly. You have no margin. You quickly become tired—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.

Three things to remember when the wind is against you.

  1. The disciples are where Jesus wants them: “Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him.” The disciples are straining at the oars, with the wind against them, not because they are outside of the will of God, but precisely because they are following God’s will. Continue to seek God’s will. Strive to fulfill God’s calling, even if it means you must strain at the oars.
  2. While the disciples are straining at the oars, Jesus is in prayer—perhaps even for them. Let this bring you comfort: “The Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:27). The Holy Spirit is praying God’s will for us.
  3. When Jesus sees the disciples straining at the oars, he comes to them, walking on the water. As Jesus enters the boat, the wind dies down. Jesus can do what we cannot. Only he can change the winds.

Are the winds against you? Keep rowing! If you are following the Lord’s command, you must keep rowing—even against the wind.
And let us pray for Jesus to grant us favorable winds.

If you are following the Lord’s command, you must keep rowing—even against the wind. [Click to Tweet]

Discussion Questions

  1. How does this analogy help explain the results of your current ministry efforts?
  2. In your ministry, are the winds with you or against you? How do you know?
  3. In both Hebrew and Greek, the same word means both wind and spirit. What actions can we take in our lives and ministries to catch the winds of God’s Spirit?

Filed Under: Leadership, Spiritual Formation

Monday Quote: Pray for Peace

Pat Hannon @phannon May 26, 2014 Leave a Comment

Monday Quote: Pray for Peace

I, Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 26, 2014, as a day of prayer for permanent peace.
–Presidential Proclamation: Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2014

PrayerforPeace2014

 

Filed Under: Miscellany, Spiritual Formation Tagged With: Monday Quotes

Monday Quote: God For You

Pat Hannon @phannon May 19, 2014 Leave a Comment

Monday Quote: God For You

It is absolutely imperative at the outset that you come to terms with this simple yet life-changing truth: God is for you.
-Mark Batterson

God_For_You_Picture_by_Phannon_-_Inspiring_Photo

Filed Under: Spiritual Formation Tagged With: Monday Quotes

Monday Quote: What God Thinks About Me

Pat Hannon @phannon May 5, 2014 Leave a Comment

Monday Quote: What God Thinks About Me

Becoming obsessed with what people think about me is the quickest way to forget what God thinks about me.
-Mark Wilson, Filled Up, Poured Out

WhatGodThinks

Filed Under: Books, Spiritual Formation Tagged With: Monday Quotes

Monday Quote: Church Vitality

Pat Hannon @phannon April 29, 2014 Leave a Comment

Monday Quote: Church Vitality

A church’s vitality is not measured by how many people fill the pews, but rather by how much those people are filled with Jesus.
-Mark Wilson, Filled Up, Poured Out

Church Vitality

Filed Under: Books, Leadership, Spiritual Formation Tagged With: Monday Quotes

Free Book Friday #18

Pat Hannon @phannon April 25, 2014 Leave a Comment

Free Book Friday #18

Parable Praise Party: Come Back Home
by Mary Rice Hopkins

This is a colorful children’s book, retelling the parable of the Prodigal Son for children and parents.

Come-Back-Home-Christian-EbookDownload FREE from Amazon.

Filed Under: Books, Spiritual Formation Tagged With: Free Book Friday

Monday Quote: The Practice of Resurrection

Pat Hannon @phannon April 21, 2014 Leave a Comment

Monday Quote: The Practice of Resurrection

The practice of resurrection is an intentional, deliberate decision to believe and participate in resurrection life, life out of death, life that trumps death, life that is the last word, Jesus life. -Eugene Peterson, Practice Resurrection

Practice of Resurrection

Filed Under: Books, Spiritual Formation Tagged With: Monday Quotes

Monday Quote: In the Cross

Pat Hannon @phannon April 14, 2014 Leave a Comment

Monday Quote: In the Cross

In the Cross is salvation; in the Cross is life; in the Cross is protection against our enemies; in the Cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness; in the Cross is strength of mind; in the Cross is joy of spirit; in the Cross is excellence of virtue; in the Cross is perfection of holiness. There is no salvation of soul, nor hope of eternal life, save in the Cross.

-Thomas à Kempis, The Inner Life

In the Cross

Filed Under: Books, Spiritual Formation Tagged With: Monday Quotes

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