FALL FRIDAY…
Posted by Chilly | Posted in Bible Study, It's Friday! | Posted on 13-11-2009
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“People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flowers FALL. But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you. 1 Peter 24-25.
I’m sitting outside a little cafe & bakery in midtown Detroit – it may be the last warm day for a while … so, I thought I’d blog another survey. I started a new ‘Friday’ thing a few weeks ago – something random – that would look at one particular focus — so far we’ve covered the subjects of FREE, FAITH and FEAR – this week, let’s play off of the ‘mid-November’ theme and talk about: “FALL“…
- Have you raked and/or jumped in leaves this fall?
- Do you do the whole apple cider & powdered donut thing?
- Do you love all the seasons or would you prefer something just one? IF just one, which?
- “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”(Rom. 3:23) – what does this mean? Where do you fall short?
- “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Cor. 10:12) – what’s the difference between confidence and pride? Are you standing firm?
- Think about the ‘greed’ of our culture – check this out: “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” (1 Tim. 6:9) … what trap do you fall into most often?
- How do you minister to people who fall? Hebrews 6:6 says, “…if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.” ~ what’s your approach?
These are all things that are on my mind this afternoon. I look forward to hearing your thoughts… please take a few minutes and leave a comment about any/all of these questions. And, have a great weekend!
Let me leave you with one more FALL verse:
Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from FALLing away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. 25 All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen. Jude 1:24-25
1. Yes… but it’s been years!
2. Cider yes. Donuts no.
3. Fall is my favorite, when it’s a year like this one.
I enjoy having them all.
4. Ha! Where do I begin?
5. Confidence is a good thing if it’s grounded in
Christ. Confidence in anything or anyone else
will FALL painfully short.
6. The trap of fear. I don’t care about material
wealth.
7. Restore them gently. Pray for them, even when
they disagree with me. Many of the fallen refuse
to listen to correction, but I’ve seen prayer rock
them to the core!
1. No…I make Aaron rake them.
And as for jumping in them…no way, I always heard you can get head lice doing that!
2. Absoluletly…I bring home a gallon from the cider mill and then simmer it on the stove w/ some cinnamon and nutmeg…But the donuts need to be plain.
3. I prefer fall….because you can wear cuter clothes that cover a multitude of sins–and you don’t have to cover them up with a big ole coat. I don’t like summer/spring clothes because my skin is a ghostly shade of pale.
4. It means that we never will make it on our own…I fall short in the patience department over and over and over and over and over…..
5. Confidence is knowing who you are in Christ and that the good stuff about you is ONLY because of Him…pride is thinking you’re more than who you are and patting yourself on the back for getting there on your own….
6. Hmmm…I need to think about this one….
7. With grace. Its difficult sometimes, because we think “They should KNOW better…” But I think about how Christ gracefully rescued me when I should’ve known better and pray that he’ll give me the strength to extend that to someone else.
1. No
2. For sure!!!
3. Love them all but I am beginning to dread the cold of winter.
4. “fall short of the Glory of God”…”Glory of God” …I am imperfect, sinful, impatient, selfish, self-centered at times, and on and on…..very SHORT of His Glory.
5. Confidence comes from knowing who you are and where you are going ( with a proper perspective of where God fits in your life), pride comes from a false and self-centered (usually puffed-up) impression of who you are and where you are going. Yes I am standing firm. But am a bit shaky at times !
6. Regarding the issue of “greed” I fall in to self-pity sometimes. Wishing we were more “settled” financially at this time in our lives.
7. Over coffee!!! With prayer. With listening ears and heart. With encouraging words. With Scripture.
1. No. The kids & I collected leaves a couple weeks ago & did a lot of fun projects with them though.
2. Not usually but this year I did… Twice! Well once it was hot chocolate & a donut. I like warm apple cider for sure (could go for some right now…).
3. I think I’m learning to appreciate them all more now that I’m older but I definitely prefer warmer weather so either a nice fall like the one we’re having now or spring cuz it feels warmer than it really is cuz we just got finished with a super cold season. I definitely don’t want it to be just one season, though, or I wouldn’t appreciate the awesome weather as much.
4. It means that we are not perfect like God is. I fall short in many areas… Pride, selfishness, lack of wisdom, yeah the list could go on. SO thankful for God’s grace & his willingness to not give up as he’s changing me.
5. It’s easy to define the difference between confidence & pride (see above answers) but for me it’s hard to make the distinction when I’m by myself, in my own mind/thoughts. Pride is being self-absorbed -whether you’re boasting about yourself or thinking so lowly of yourself that the focus is on you again. I have trouble with both ends of the spectrum. When I’m in God’s word & spending time with him, I’m standing firm. If I forget who I am in Christ, then I definitely find myself prideful in my thinking in one way or the other.
6. I fall into the trap of trying to do things on my own instead of trusting God to show me what to do & letting him do his part. Yikes. What a verse.
7. I pray a lot about what to say/do, then let the Holy Spirit lead me, using God’s word as a guide. I hold Christians accountable if they are beginning to fall away by being straight up with them about their sin(s), and I hope I lovingly guide back Christians & non-Christians to repentance by speaking God’s word into their lives. So important to know the Word!
1. I raked the leaves for about two seconds this season… then Troy took over. I watched admiringly.
2. Holla!
3. I love all seasons but Winter is my favorite. I know. I am weird.
4. I can’t be perfect. God is perfection and I am nowhere near that.
5. Pride is confidence in self. True confidence is founded in Him!
6. My trap – craving for the approval of man.
7. Minister from a place of humility. Gentleness, kindness, and firmness in truth…
1) No
I prefer summer 
2)No
3) I like all the seasons except winter… its too long
4) It means that none of us are perfect… not even the most holy person we know… we all fall short of God’s standards for holiness…BUT that is why Jesus died! He became the standard for us, because we couldnt. Thank you Jesus! Where do I fall short??… I fall short in sincere love, perfect faith, selfless living and complete obedience to my Lord… BUT I strive daily to overcome these weaknesses… some days I succeed more than others, but even on my strongest days I still fall short.
5) I believe a christian who is confident finds their confidence is in Christ… but pride is confidence in self.
Am I standing firm? Yes, I believe I am… only by faith in Christ.
6)The trap of selfishness, and greediness for my will/ my plans for the future and not God’s. Sometimes I trick myself into thinking God’s will is my will… but then I find myself lost in a world of me, myself, and I… then God is gracious enough to interrupt my “ideas” and get me back on track!Thank you Jesus!
7) In love… listen, speak the truth (which is always Jesus/the Word), pray and trust God to take care of the rest. HE WILL!
Great post Captain
Thanks
1. Haven’t had to rake it years (don’t miss it)
2. Yeah…love cider and donuts.
3. Fall is my favorite season…love wearing a hoody and no jacket.
5. I think confidence is rooted in God’s love and pride is rooted in our accomplishments.
Thanks for all you do!!