Christ's Church of Oronogo - Pathways

Ignatian Awareness Examen PrayerThanksgivingPetition for GuidanceReflection of the DayContritionLooking for the Future 

1. Maintain Honesty in Prayer2. Dwell in Scripture3. Practice Quick Forgiveness 

When the Prodigal Returns Home - A Relational Look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son What do we learn about God - the Father? [Be like Him]1. We cannot behave so badly that He will reject us when we return2. He is looking for us to return even when He lets us go do what we insist on doing3. God is patient, waiting for us to come to our senses4. His priority is to restore a relationship with Him first before everything else5. He defends His actions to His critics and protects the prodigal who returnsWhat do we learn about sin, its effects, and restoration ? [Be wise in our choices]1. Sin changes our perspective to focus on ourselves and our desires2. Sin objectifies people and causes us to use people for our own selfish purposes3. Sin blinds us to the ultimate consequences of our actions4. Ultimately, sin can be a motivator to influence us to return to God5. Sin does not overpower the love of God6. It's never too late to return to God no matter how much we have sinned7. God is eager to restore usWhat do we learn about the prodigal? [come home]1. When we put our mind to do something God doesn't want us to do, He will let us2. When we disregard who we know we should be as Christians, God never discards us but waits for us to return to him 3. We return to God presenting our terms to him (be a hired servant) but God restores us to our rightful place as his child 4. We, like the prodigal, can be shocked at the compassion, mercy, grace,forgiveness,and restoration of God 5. Not everyone will be happy that we returned and that God is rejoicing. Some think we should be punished What do we learn about being judgmental on those who return to God? [Rejoice when sinners return]1. We can have a heart that does not reflect the love of the Father2. We can have a transactional relationship with God - we do something for Him and He is obligated , in our mind, to do something for us3. We can refuse to join God in His celebration of restoration4. We can hold grudges against people who have sinned and shamed themselves and the Christian community 5. We can expect that God should have honored us at an earlier time or instead of someone else    

Plan how to be less stressed this holiday season:1.  Take 15-20 minutes and sit down with a pen and paper and list out all the ways you tend to get stressed during the holidays. Ask for God’s wisdom before you start to be honest and not get stressed out by writing out all the ways you get stressed out.2.  Next, identify where the major stressors are that are leading to all that stress. Invite God into this part of the process andask how important the stressor is. Write a 1 by the most stressful experiences, a 2 by moderate stressful experiences, and a 3 by the least stressful experiences.  If they are all a 1, that’s okay.3.  Last, for each stressor, pray for wisdom and then ask yourself this question: “How could I creatively and assertively manage this stressor in such a way that it doesn’t turn into stress in the first place?”

1. Stay focused on where God is leading you.- 1 Corinthians 4:20- Luke 9:23- Galatians 2:202. Thoughts (Recognize how your thought life affects your progress toward Christ likeness)- Romans 12:2- Romans 8:12-13- Colossians 3:1-43. Actions (Bible, Prayer and Community) - Lectio Divina (click here)- Morning Affirmations by Kenneth (click here)- Psalm 23- Hosea 14Pray without ceasing - 1 Thessalonians 5:17- Invite God into the interaction- Ask God for His wisdom- Ask Him to direct you in your heart language - Ask Him to walk with you through any valley you are in that makes continuing to get healthy difficult for youChurch - Meet regularly with other Christians Where do people stall?1. The chose their addiction over becoming like Jesus2. They tell God how He should change them and if He doesn't meet their expectations, they become discouraged and can turn away from Him.3. They isolate themselves due to fear of exposure or shame after failure. 4. They set unrealistic goals for change.5. People are hurt by others and walk away from God. By the love and power of God in your life, you can make it through your addiction to a life like Jesus on the other side.For more info on Repentance: Episode 16 - Confessing and Repentance (12/03/2020)

cco.church/aplaceforyouForums to learn about A Place for YouSunday, September 7 at 5 pm - Student Ministry Center North Tuesday, September 9 at 6:30 pm - Student Ministry Center North Sunday, September 14 at 5 pm - Student Ministry Center North Tuesday, September 16 at 6:30 pm - Student Ministry Center North 

Key Steps in the Recovery Process1. Admit the problems2. Seek support 3. Detoxification 4. Develop new ways to face the challenges of life5. Address underlying issues - explore the roots of addiction through therapy 6. Build a relapse prevention plan7. Engage in aftercare - Aftercare is a way to practice the changes you have experienced .8. Maintain a sober lifestyle - Establish new routines that maintain our life without the addiction.Christ's Church Counselling Center - (417) 673-0090

Developing a Soft Heart with GodSurrender and Keep in Step with the Holy Spirit (Gal 5) Confess and Repent of Sin (Hosea 14)Forgive and Bless Others (Eph 4:32)Resolve Conflict and Avoid Pride/Judgement  (James 1:19-21)Immerse Yourself in God's Word and Worship (Ps 1)Practice Humility and Service  (Mt 20:28, Phil 2:1-11)Pray for a Soft Heart  ( Ps 51:10)

Prayer and TrinityPrayer is communication between God and youUse of the word in prayer – Lectio Divina (show notes) – Praying through a passage and asking God for directionLord’s Prayer as a template for prayer (show notes)Silence and solitudeSilence - ceasing inner thoughts and emotional responses to be still before God (Ps 46:10; 62:5; Habakuk 2:20).  We quiet ourselves to be able to hear the Lord speak even if he chooses his “still, small voice” - 1 Kings 19:12 (Hebrew - a sound silent, soft, light, gentle).  Silencing the inner voice and emotion that we feel prepares us to be fully concentrated on God.   Solitude - to be fully present to God and not paying attention to anyone or anything else. We might be alone or in a group. Solitude is more a state of mind and heart than it is a place (Foster, Celebration of Discipline).Trinity – a Three-In-One God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Scripture affirms that the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are all GodThey mystery of Who God is can be seen in Jesus as separate from the Father Earthly ministryHis sacrifice for our sins  Ps 22 and in the passage on the Man of Sorrows of Is 53.  Resurrection2nd ComingThe Holy Spirit as separate from the Father and the SonActs 2:38 – because our sins are forgiven, the Holy Spirit lives in us Transformation passages are all Holy Spirit relatedOur fellowship with God is because the Holy Spirit lives in usClick here for more information on Prayer

Catalysts and BibleCatalysts Meditation on ScriptureJournalingSolitude Fasting Sharing your storyBe accountableBibleInspiration – God is a relational God who wants to be knownPsalm 1 – meditation and the transformation processJournaling – characteristics you’d like to see grow in yourself, prayers, questions that arise from reading, thoughts you have, commitments you want to make.Click here for more info about Bible

Because God lives in us, here are seven individual ways we can face today and tomorrow with God include: 1.    Focus on Who God is and what He means to you2.    Prayer that acknowledges who He is as well as casting your cares on Him 3.    Meditate on verses that comfort you  4.    Trust God, 5.    Seek peace through reliance on His presence.6.    Set realistic goals to keep our lives focused on living as God would want us to live, and 7.    Using practical strategies to manage the stresses that we feel. Walter Harrington penned this prayer Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings everything into being. Who gives the sun and the rain, the continuing cycles that bring forth life.Who appoints the days and the seasons to bless the sons of men.Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, whose breath goes forth and sustains all. Who is in all and through all, a God near and not far. In whom we live and move and have our being.Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.Who gives fertility to our lands, and blesses our tables with food.Who is the true bread of Life.Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, whose mighty hand is seen in creation. Who is more vast than the ocean, mightier than the storm, and more gentle than the still small voice.At whose voice the waters are stilled, and the winds obey.Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who loves beyond measure.Who stepped down into the creation, to become one of us.Who lived among us, and identified with us.Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, whose loving kindness endures forever.Who did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself.Who took the form of man, of a servant, and humbled himself and was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who raised the Savior from the grave. Who buried sin and defeated death.Who brought victory to the world, and offered salvation to we who have been ensnared by that final enemy.Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, whose love has redeemed us and given us true life, life everlasting. Through whom we have the sure hope of salvation, the renewal of all things.May the earth be filled with your knowledge and glory, as waters that cover the sea. Maranatha. Come, Lord Jesus.